Political campaigns sometimes bring out the worst in people. One of the challengers in the Sanitary District election, Tony Finocchio, managed to insult the integrity of the entire current board of directors. His comments were erroneous and nasty.

Mr. Finocchio claims that “Every member on the current Sanitary board has been appointed and reappointed by their friends and neighbors that are presently already on the board.” Wrong! When vacancies on the board occur, an ad is placed in the Times soliciting applications of interested residents. I answered one of those ads and was appointed based on my experience. Why didn’t you apply then, Tony?

I didn’t know anyone on the board. The same is true of Jerry Butler and Michael Maroon. I voted them onto the board based on their competence and integrity. None of us knew each other. Not every place is like Chicago, Tony, where clout rules. In Fountain Hills, we do things differently.

You stated that my experience “had nothing to do with managing a waste water company.” Really? I did indeed work in both the personnel and information technology departments at the largest sanitary district in the country, in Chicago, where you were a cop. I am proud of my service as part of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. In some measure, I actually contributed to making that organization the premier sanitary district in the country. I proudly did so. Including my time at the Fountain Hills Sanitary District, I have over 30 years of experience in the running of sanitary districts. You have no experience. I am proud of my qualifications and respectfully ask the voters to determine who is more qualified.