To the Editor:
(Canastota, NY –Oct. 2015) I was disappointed to read Congressman Richard Hanna’s endorsement of judicial candidate Patrick O’Sullivan.
Above all else, our judiciary must remain free of party politics. Mr. Hanna is a partisan office holder who should not inject partisanship into what is supposed to be a fair and impartial judiciary. Further, Hanna lives in Oneida County and has no legitimate reason to involve himself in what is strictly a Madison County election.
Mr. Hanna’s endorsement also lacks credibility. As someone who doesn’t live in our county and most likely has never appeared in any of our courts, he truly has no knowledge of Mr. O’Sullivan’s qualifications, much less the ability to evaluate them.
The only thing more disappointing than Hanna’s making an endorsement in a judicial election is Mr. O’Sullivan’s accepting Hanna’s support.
It’s hard enough to maintain a fair court system under ideal circumstances. It becomes even more difficult when a partisan office holder does a favor for a judicial candidate who, one day, may be asked to return the favor.
Our courts are supposed to be above reproach. So must our judges be.
Estelle Patane, Canastota