'Malcontents' trying to force out clerk

To the Editor:

As long time residents of Augusta Township my husband and I are urging
all voters in the township to vote no to the recall of Clerk Kathy Giszczak.
Kathy is the first clerk in a very long time to have the background of education
and experience to perform all of the clerk's duties, which she has done since
2004 in a very professional manner.

She has assumed every day accounting duties that were previously
"outsourced" to an outside accounting agency which had cost the taxpayers 
of Augusta approximately $50,000. per year. I am sure that if she is recalled, 
the new Clerk (candidates yet unnamed) will go back to the previous practice 
of hiring the expensive outside accountants.

It is no secret that (some) of the zealous recall petition carriers are people who 
have run unsuccessfully for office, have been voted out of office, or have some 
personal hatred for Ms. Giszczak. What do they care if the cost to taxpayers will
 run between $6,000 and $7,000 per election? They clearly are not looking after 
the best interests of Augusta citizens. They are hoping to promote their own 
personal agendas. In this time of reduced public revenues does it make any 
sense to spend scarce public money on a foolish vendetta?

During her six year tenure Ms. Giszczak has been harassed, threatened, stalked 
and assaulted. You might well ask, "Why doesn't she just quit the job"? That is 
exactly what the malcontents are hoping for. Ms. Giszczak is determined that she 
will not give up on an important job that the citizens of Augusta have duly elected 
her to do. Please attend township meetings occasionally, read meeting minutes 
which are readily available on the township website or at the Township Hall, 
and judge Ms. Giszczak's competence for yourself.

A message that often comes with my email is: "The only thing necessary for evil 
to flourish is for good men (and women) to do nothing". In this inclement weather 
it would be easy to ignore this election, but it is an important opportunity for us 
all to do our civic duty.

Rita C. McMahon