This needless snag is harmful to the districts, their constituents

Jan. 6, 2021 — the day our democracy’s fundamental peaceful transfer of power was threatened — will never be forgotten. The insurrection occurred after Donald Trump’s several failed court cases and pressure campaigns to get state legislatures to fudge numbers and commit fraud and, finally, to get Mike Pence, then vice president, to deny the certification of the people’s votes. None of those efforts worked. Even Republicans did not go along with Trump’s antics and media games.

On Jan. 3 of this year, our state Legislature made the unusual decision to delay the seating of two of our duly elected representatives: Kristin Kassner, for the Second Essex District, and Margaret Scarsdale, for the First Middlesex District. These Democrats ran honest, vigorous campaigns and came out ahead after both districts went through recounts. The complaints filed by Kassner’s challenger, incumbent Lenny Mirra, had all been denied.

Meanwhile, Mirra is seated as “interim” representative for the Second Essex District (because of redistricting, he was never my representative, nor was he for four of the six towns in the district) and the First Middlesex District has been left unrepresented. This is harmful to our democracy and to these districts.

How can the state simply decide to go against certified election results? Since when does winning by a slim margin mean the elected representative doesn’t get seated if the opposition complains? What precedent does this set?

The constituents in these districts deserve their duly elected representatives.

WENDY DABCOVICH

Ipswich