As a decade-long resident of Deferiet, I am disturbed by our recent elections and plain angry about the mayoral results specifically.

The village is tiny, yet I did not know this “mayor” by name until election results came out. I don’t believe I have ever met him; he admits he did not campaign. Therefore, I see only a few possibilities regarding the “election” of 60-something John Pais as mayor of Deferiet.

Electing Mr. Pais — who has to come out of mothballs — only highlights a ridiculous attempt to turn back the clock, a willful avoidance of the current state of the village, and snubs any thought of its future.

The first possibility is that the small group who opposed Mayor Robert Foster did not count anyone capable of sustaining a campaign on real issues.

None among them could legitimately oppose Mr. Foster in a formal challenge. Mr. Pais only got in because he had been out of village politics long enough that only the old guard would know his name well enough to spell it on a ballot. If they’d written in Mickey Mouse for mayor, I would not be able to tell anyone the difference.

The second possibility is that this cabal just plotted their scheme too late to get a name on the ballot on time. There was no campaign because there was no actual platform that could be put forth, only the vague thought of going backward.

It should be obvious why there would be a lack of folks ready to put their name on that. If I cannot say why I disagree with Mr. Pais or fellow write-ins Tim Irey or Janet Zando, it is because they have never publicly put forward any concern that could be discussed. Where is the proper public discourse?

I don’t subscribe to conspiracy theories — yet it seems clear that conspiring is exactly what occurred; this gives me no confidence in Pais, Irey or Zando. While it’s impressive to get 59 residents of Deferiet to agree on any course of action, I won’t be congratulating those responsible. Rather than a grass-roots victory, this represents the worst kind of local politics — done in a sneaky, grade-school-clique sort of way. I am ashamed to be associated with it by mere proximity. As a result of these shenanigans, I am, like Mr. Foster, now soured by the idea of doing anything for the betterment of the village.

Any investigation of those involved in this coup would likely find them retired and/or elderly residents who stubbornly refuse to acknowledge the neglect and damage done by previous boards and mayors, which Foster was trying to fix. Bottom line: John Pais and his cronies do not represent me or my family.

Zachary Anderson

Deferiet

The writer is former chairman of the Deferiet Revitalization Committee.

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