To the editor:
As first-time voters, a number of my friends and I feel like fools, betrayed by mayor-elect William Lantigua.
Mr. Lantigua needs to serve his city as a full-time mayor. We believe that he should keep his word.
On Sept. 24, he said, "I want to be a full-time mayor and I will be a full-time mayor." Why is he going back on his word before he's even sworn into office? Is greed the main reason for this? Does he just see the position as another source of income? We hope the $100,000 a year isn't the reason he ran for this position.
Serving the city of Lawrence should come first, then a position as a state representative. This city is in dire need of attention. It is in debt by $17 million, and about to go broke March 1.
Many of us voted for Mr. Lantigua in November, thinking he would help our community and keep his promises. Now we read the newspaper and wonder if his true colors are coming out. We felt great — knowing as young adults that we were making a change, a right decision to vote — and now we feel stupid.
Not only does Mr. Lantigua make the voters feel like fools, he makes Hispanics look really bad, as if we can't do our job the right way and keep our word as citizens of Lawrence. We feel ashamed and embarrassed that we chose him as our mayor.
Mr. Lantigua said if elected mayor, he would resign as state representative. Now that he is elected, he wants to be mayor and not resign from the Statehouse. We believe he is breaking his promise, and we wonder how many more promises he is going to break. He knows we need a full-time mayor, yet it seems he doesn't care about the city or the people who supported him.
His attack, in 2001, on Jose Santiago for considering a run for mayor while a state representative makes Lantigua look hypocritical now. He makes the new voters and other residents of Lawrence feel regret. His not resigning his state office before serving his term for the city seems irresponsible. It should make people think twice as to whether he can handle taking care of our city.
Who will take full responsibility as mayor of Lawrence and rebuild our community?
Edwin Delarosa
Lawrence
