Attention: Franklin County readers:

There has been a vacuum of effective leadership demonstrated since we learned of Norm McAllister’s alleged offenses and very real remarks.

I know that a petition has been created, by a private citizen, to remove Norm McAllister from his seat in the legislature; but, as far as I know, it is only available on Facebook.

I have deliberately never joined Facebook and I am certain that others are in the same position as I, of being unable to use the Facebook petition but still wishing to register their objection to Mr. McAllister’s continued claim to the title of ‘Senator from Franklin County.”

For their benefit (and my own), I have drafted the following language which may be copied into a letter or an e-mail and sent to both Senate Pro Tem John Campbell and Lieutenant-Governor Phil Scott.  

“I, the undersigned, being a registered voter in Franklin County, Vermont, do hereby petition the Senate to immediately revoke from Norm McAllister the title, responsibilities and privileges of a state senator.

This petition is not based on any pre-judgement of Mr. McAllister’s guilt under the criminal code for crimes of which he is accused; rather, it is a response to Mr. McAllister’s known violation of his oath of office, based on the official record of Mr. McAllister’s remarks as captured by the State’s Attorney of Franklin County.

Every day that Mr. McAllister is allowed to retain his senate seat is a violation of the rights of his constituents to have effective and unassailable representation of their interests before the senate.”

Women voters might wish to add the following:

“Considering the nature of his recorded remarks alone, and the repellant attitudes that they reflect, his continued privilege in the senate is particularly insensitive and offensive to female constitutents.”

You may find it simpler to contact Mr. Campbell through the interface on his contact page, but, according to the legislative website, Mr. Campbell’s home email address is the following:  vt13@aol.com

I don’t see any way to contact the Lieutenant Governor by e-mail other than to fill in a form provided on his official website, which is what I did.

I hope this will help some other folks to make their voices heard in this extremely important effort to reclaim the dignity of Franklin County.