By Jonathan Krall, Alexandria (File photo)

To the editor:
In recent weeks, supporters of Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg have, in the pages of the Alexandria Times, strongly objected to the idea of a write-in campaign by Mayor Bill Euille.

Said one, “these dissenters refuse to accept a fairly cast vote.” Another accused Euille’s supporters of trying to “rearrange the facts to suit their purposes.” The problem with these and other such statements is that they simply are not true.

Everyone agrees and accepts that Silberberg is the Democratic nominee. We all understand that she will stand for election in November. However, she is not yet the mayor, and Euille’s write-in campaign is entirely within the rules. Further, the democratic tradition rightly encourages his supporters to speak up rather than shut up.

There is nothing wrong with a write-in campaign. There is certainly something wrong with false accusations that turn off voters by making an honest election appear toxic. This campaign of fake controversy and of disempowerment comes straight out of the Republican playbook. It is beneath us.