Dear editor,
We are soon going to be choosing who we want to be mayor of our town for the next term.
I have decided to share my experience with Larry Walden, to inform those who go to vote, what they might expect from him if they vote him in as mayor.
I was president of the Senior Citizens Center at 223 N. State St., a little over two years ago when Larry began offering his help, making things that helped us out. He was patient, considerate and friendly. He gave me a special card expressing what seemed to be a genuine expression of friendship, that really touched me.
But then, after making about a dozen things for us at the center over two or three months, one Sunday afternoon Larry informed me that he was going to remove the two large tables we use to process goods coming into the center. I said, I dont think so.
So he maneuvered a meeting with three of our board members and began telling me how things were going to be done around the center. This escalated into physical threats. And when he saw that he was not going to get his way, he insisted on a board meeting to vote me out a president.
I had given a report to the county commissioners on what Larry had done, so I shared with our board members what I had given to the commissioners, and they voted to retain me as president.
Larry stopped coming to the Senior Center. I still can be friendly with him, but I learned that Larry can change from being very friendly and helpful, to letting you know that things will be done his way.
If Larry could bring his dark side under control, he could make very useful and valuable contributions to our community. I write this to help you make an informed decision when you go to vote.
Joseph Hess,
Iola, Kan.
