To the Editor,

Politics is a tough business. Very often it is hard to figure out by very experienced people like myself. I am a Republican who lost reelection to the Hopkinton Town Council in the recent election.

I have run every two years for the Hopkinton Town Council since 1992. It took me three tries to be elected to the Town Council. I lost two bids for town moderator before that. Yet I am certainly the most Republican member of my Town Council in modern times.

 All candidates who recently lost, whether in a primary or the general election, certainly contributed to the democratic process by running. What people need to remember is that many factors contribute to wins and losses at election time. Some areas support one party more than another at election time. In Rhode Island, it tends to be Democratic, with multiple small towns that do go Republican often.

Political analysis of elections is crucial. Reflections and discussions on why candidates or proposals won or lost certainly would be most important to candidates and political parties. Things such as the strength of opponents, political climate, timing and the constituency you run in are all relevant.

 As a Republican, I especially want to see increased members of my party in the Rhode Island General Assembly. Republicans need to lay the groundwork, but Rhode Islanders need to ask themselves whether they are better off voting for the Democrats and virtually ignoring Republicans! Places like Cranston and Warwick are especially relevant to Republican influence in the state. The fact that former President Donald J. Trump took municipalities like Johnston and Woonsocket – normally not Republican – is noteworthy.

 In closing, I do hope something is done with the lopsided 6-1 Democratic dominance on the state Board of Elections!

Decades ago both political parties had two members each.

Scott Bill Hirst

Ashaway