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Ms.Soro was elected a Councilwoman in the town of Wawayanda in the fall of 2003. In January 2004 she took her seat as the lone Democratic council person and woman on the town board. Together with a Democratic Supervisor, they compromised two votes of a five member board. Both had been elected on a platform of open and responsible government. They called for reforms in the comprehensive and master plans and urged new zoning laws be adopted. In addition, they called for a revised ethics law, a new personnel policy and more efficient management of the town's water and sewer districts. These attempted changes brought about an undercurrent of lies, malicious gossip, and innuendoes from those who opposed the changes. In the election of 2005, the only Democratic Supervisor was up for reelection. Ms. Soro had been elected to a four year term. The election was one of the most vile ever seen in this town. Those who opposed the reforms and their backers spent large sums of money to set up derogatory blogs. They also sent out numerous and expensive mailings containing exaggerations, half truths and down right lies. Unfortunately the entire Republican slate was elected, leaving Ms. Soro the lone Democrat and woman on the board. Ms. Soro continued to fight for what she believed was the correct course of action for the people of the town. She continued to question policies and procedures that were unfair or seemed to favor special interest groups. She questioned obvious conflicts of interest pertaining to board members and the town supervisor. She pointed out violations of the town's code of ethics. She continued to question why she was not invited or informed of "informal board meetings." Why her paperwork was given to her the day of the meeting while others had days to review it. Why minutes from town board meetings reflect the comments of board members and certain members of the public while hers were routinely omitted. In short, she was a woman demanding her rights as an elected official. Those who opposed her saw her as someone they needed to silence. It should be obvious now why the harassment began soon after her election. It started with a prominent Republican commenting to her "look what you see when you don't have a gun in your hand." In anger she once uttered a profane word in town hall. A financial backer of the Republican Party accused her of cursing at him and filed charges against her. The charges were dropped immediately when a judge heard the case. She has had various things spray painted on the road in front of her home. The windshield wiper housing on her car was bent. A local establishment which has a counter copy of the local newspaper depicted a photo of a pig with her name written across it. Upon leaving a town board meeting she discovered a rubber version of male genitalia glued to her windshield. A blog entitled "Gail's gotta go" was set up. It contained nothing of substance, just more malicious gossip and remarks aimed at discrediting her. The most recent and most malicious act of harassment was the horse head found in her pool (Click Here to watch the ABC News Video Clip). This event was so malicious that it was featured in every major news source in the tri-state area and beyond including ABC News, MSNBC, Fox News, the Times Herald Record, the nationwide popular "Daily Kos" (www.dailykos.com/story/2006/7/28/112459/081) and many others. It continues to be a hot topic on many blogs across the internet to this day. The harassment has escalated with every incident, Yet Ms. Soro refuses to resign or be silenced. The harassment and intimidation continues, but she steadfastly refuses to knuckle under. This dedication to her constituents is an example that any current or future politician must emulate. Please show your support for Ms. Soro. Attend your Town Board Meetings!
80 Ridgebury Hill Road, Slate Hill, New York |
