Letter to the Editor: Free speech works both ways

Monte Lazarus criticized council candidate Larry Sacher for daring to complain against council chairman Larry Magel during the public comment segment of the last council meeting. At that time, Mr. Sacher spoke out against Chairman Magel’s open letters containing misleading allegations against candidates Sacher, Petricca and Honecker and urging the election of Magel’s friends Recker, Gibson and Honig.

Mr. Lazarus, a senior member of the “Good Ol’ Boys Club” that has tried to influence Marco politics for years, correctly claims that Chairman Magel has a right to free speech as a “private citizen.” However, two arguable problems immediately surface: (1) Why didn’t Magel disclaim writing as Council Chairman when his letters blatantly identified him as such and, (2) Why does Monte Lazarus think that the same right to free speech does not apply to public speakers during council meetings?

When council candidate Larry Sacher explained during the meeting’s public comment segment his oppositions to Chairman Magel’s actions, he, (Sacher), was courteous, civil and in no manner whatsoever, “attacking”, as Monte Lazarus alleges. The video will verify this.

I support truthful, straightforward candidates Sacher, Petricca and Honecker. I hope most of Marco Island agrees also.

Russ Colombo

Marco Island