Letter to the editor: Transparency vs. politics

The editorial “The people have a right to know” (March 2, TribLIVE) offers only one side of the story. I don’t disagree that the people have a right to know what their public officials are doing, but I think it’s important that they understand the entire scope of what an elected official actually does, and it’s not accurately measured by how much time he or she spends strapped behind a desk.

There is a reason they are not called “private officials.” The job demands that they be in public with those they represent; that is the essence of any and all office holders. My wife, Sherry Magretti Hamilton, Westmoreland County Register of Wills, answers questions at the grocery store, our kids’ sporting events, even when we go out to eat as a family. She makes herself available to her constituents and is a regular participant in expos, seminars and committees throughout the county.

This issue at hand isn’t about transparency, it’s about politics. The campaign is over and the people rejected Katie Pecarchick when she ran for office. It’s dangerous to have people looking at everything as a potential political opportunity instead of focusing on doing the job, thereby selling short the taxpayers of Westmoreland County.

As we all know, Democrats have a hard time letting go of elections; look at what they’ve done to President Trump with the Russia investigation and impeachment . This situation, although on a much smaller scale, is really no different.

Jason Hamilton

Hempfield