GOP in Orleans County ignores strong woman candidate for district attorney

Editor:

As a 63-year-old white male, let me first say, I love Orleans County.  I love New York State and I love my country: the United States of America.

I have served Orleans County, the county I have lived the most years in, as a now retired human services worker, for over 27 years.  I am ashamed that, once again, more times than not, in our county, let alone our country, a woman who has worked so hard to get where she is, has been turned away.

Now, I am going to admit that I do not know John Sansone, who received the Republican nomination for district attorney, and I wish him well in what I see as my home county.  But I do know Susan Howard and worked with her on some cases in the Orleans County court system based on our two jobs and her being an Assistant DA for the past 12 years.

I have a great deal of respect for Susan and feel she has been overlooked, especially after highly respected retired Orleans County Family Court Judge James Punch gave Susan a ringing endorsement that apparently was also ignored.

Luckily, we haven’t had such gender disparity in the Commissioner of Orleans County office as three women have recently been assigned there – Patricia Hardenbrook, Carol Blake and, presently, Holli Nenni. All have had exemplary careers, in my estimation.

Unfortunately, this pattern of ignoring women in our society has been an all too familiar story with the GOP, Orleans County’s dominant party, in our country, as well.

Never has this been more evident than with the present “dominator” of Republicans in this country in Donald Trump, a man who has been married how many times, has obviously been unfaithful to these women how many times and has made misogynistic comments regarding many women how many times? Why this man gets any votes from women after his obvious lifestyle and personal attacks on his opposite gender is beyond my comprehension.

I think it’s time women step up even more and make their intentions known to demand more respect. White males of my age and older (and younger) have been calling the shots for too long now. It’s time for women to be given a chance. That chance is long overdue.

Thank you, Susan, for your service to this county and hang in there. Someday, your hard work will pay off for women in our society, if not for yourself, I hope.

Gerry Golden

Rochester