Dear Editor.

I want to express my strong disagreement with the letter to the Journal by Vincent Flanders. Mr. Flanders contends that Mayor Bublak’s past opposition to Measure A in Turlock declares her leadership in implementing Measure A’s announced goals once in office means she lacks integrity. This is not only wrong thinking, its frankly silly and demeaning.

Measure A was put on the ballot at a time when budgets were under extreme threat due to COVID and other national challenges. And Measure A, as crafted, allowed for its revenue to be used for any legal purpose as determined by the city council. Many jurisdictions have used the public desire for roads and public safety improvements to justify tax measures where the revenue is then utilized for other purposes. That has NOT happened in Turlock. Mayor Bublak and our city council deserve credit for implementing it as promised in the campaign. I serve on the Measure A oversite committee and know this to be the case. Our Measure A money is spent as promised, for our roads, parks and public safety.

Our political dialogue has collapsed into attack and counterattack. People make silly and disingenuous arguments to support or oppose candidates. You may disagree with Mayor Bublak, but she doesn’t lack integrity or character. It does extreme disservice to the public discussion to suggest she does.

— Mike Lynch