Letter to Gazette: "No one should have 'leg up' in election"

Today's Gazette has this letter from Hill Boss of Northampton:

To the editor:

An article in the Gazette Sept. 1 noted that the Governor's Council appeared to oppose the nomination of William Rosen as interim Hampshire County Registry of Probate. (Rosen has since withdrawn his name from contention.)

A major argument cited in the article against Rosen's appointment was that it would give him a "leg up" in an eventual election for a full term. One member of the Governor's Council was quoted as saying "it would look like we're rigging an election for someone who would otherwise not be able to make it on his own."

When former Mayor Clare Higgins resigned and City Council President David Narkewicz became acting mayor, it gave him an advantage which he might enjoy in November's mayoral election. How would this advantage be different from that which Rosen might have enjoyed?

Northampton voters would be wise to consider this issue of unfair incumbency when they vote for mayor in November.