To the editor: Tom Charlton a common sense vote in State House

I am giving my support to reelect our state representative, Tom Charlton, who represents the towns of Athens, Chester, Grafton and Windham. He has done a great job, and he works as hard for us as he has managing and operating his own timber framing business.

As a minister for 25 years and Boy Scout Troop Master, Tom has played an exceedingly important role in our community — a role that is vitally important in holding us together as a community no matter what differences, including political, we may have.

He talks from what he knows and from the truth. When he doesn’t know enough, he digs in to become effectively knowledgeable. A good example is the expertise he has gained on the issue of housing. There are few if any other members of the legislature who understand the complexities of this issue and who have developed sound approaches to alleviating our housing crisis as Tom has.

No one person is going to fix our problems and certainly not overnight. Tom has made great strides in making connections, including across the aisle. He is one of a handful of House members that, when he rises to speak, the members put aside their smartphones.

We need to keep that going and give him another two years. Consider this: We can keep moving forward with all the time and energy Tom has put in working for us all. Or we can start over again and at best stall or even fall back to the lack of common sense voting and bad bills introduced under the supermajority.

Tom Charlton may be listed as a Republican on your ballot but he represents us all with knowledge, hard work, common sense, and deep respect for us all.

Randy Miles
Chester