To the editor:

During these extraordinary times, I have been reaching out more than ever to my family, friends and neighbors to check on how they are doing and to also sustain connections that are now more important to me than ever. On a broader scale, I also have come to realize how important our local, state and national governmental leaders are in guiding us through these unsettling and uncertain times. And most especially our public servants — health care providers, first responders and others — who are often putting their own lives on the line to help keep us safe.

How unfortunate we are to have a congresswoman who does not also seem to value the important role government plays. Over her tenure in office, Elise Stefanik has time and time again pushed, prodded and voted to reduce our governmental resources. She voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, a program that covers tens of thousands of her constituents. She wrote the plan to privatize Social Security and place it in the hands of Wall Street investors. Just this year, she voted against allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices on behalf of our seniors. The congresswoman isn’t interested in finding solutions, only in destroying the very programs thousands in the North Country rely on.

This moment truly shows just how short-sighted and self-serving Elise has been. It is her responsibility to ensure our government carries out its most basic and critical functions — protecting the safety, health and security of all its citizens. Sadly, Elise is more concerned with funding her reelection campaign, sowing division and returning corporate favors than what is best for you or me.

I hope you will join me in supporting Tedra Cobb. Tedra has lived, worked and fought alongside this community for 30 years. In Washington, I trust Tedra to fight for the programs we depend on and a government that puts people first — after all, it’s what she’s always done.

John J. Haverlick

Keene Valley