How did your town meeting representative vote?

Open, accountable government is a vital part of a thriving democracy. Why, then, is it so hard to find out how your town meeting representative voted? Short of calling all 27 of your representatives, how do you know their votes?

While some town meeting members take their role seriously, there are many who do a miserable job of communicating with the people who elected them. For example, I've lived in precincts 4, 7 and 9. It took more than 15 years before any town meeting member ever called on me - in person, over the phone, etc. - to find out what I thought about various town issues. How can these people claim to represent me if they have no idea what I think?

This is one of the reasons why I ran for selectman. Indeed, when I was going door to door during the campaign earlier this year, a number of folks said the very same thing. In ten or twenty years - in some cases for their entire life here - no one running or holding public office had ever bothered to knock on their door and ask for their opinion. I was the first.

To that end, I've reposted my fall town meeting votes - just scroll down or click here - so they would be easier for you to find. If you live in precinct 9, you only need only call 26 other people now. If you live elsewhere in Falmouth, you might consider electing new town meeting representatives.