Montgomery Is A Hero of Our Time

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Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to Barbara Scuccimarra’s letter to the editor published in the PCNR on February 10, 2021, alleging that Nancy Montgomery has been an ineffective Putnam County legislator because she “keeps on fighting instead of compromising.”

Far from causing me to doubt Montgomery’s efficacy as my representative on the Putnam County Legislature, Scuccimarra’s email reminded me to thank Montgomery for her willingness to fight on instead of compromising on matters of great importance to me and, I believe, many others in her constituency.

Nancy Montgomery is truly a hero of our time.

Her lone votes against the Putnam County Legislature’s resolution seeking repeal of the Reproductive Health Act (Putnam’s resolution against abortion rights) and her lone vote against Putnam County’s law (passed in 2019, over her objection) allowing legislators, county officials and consultants to classify documents as confidential to prevent their disclosure (Putnam’s secrecy law) would be enough to make her a hero.

But she also stands as the lone vote against the patronage politics that reigns supreme under the current Putnam County executive, such as the appointment – during the current state-wide fiscal emergency – of a deputy county executive to a position that had been vacant for years and thus, in my opinion as a taxpayer, was clearly not needed.

I applaud the bravery Montgomery has shown on behalf of the citizens and taxpayers of Philipstown.

Yours,
Heidi Wendel
Nelsonville