In a recent letter to the editor (Gazette, Oct. 4), A.I. Smith claimed that those who criticize Councillors Sheena Hughes or Cam MacKay are "one of the many rich affluent elitists who have no concerns about money and have little concern for ... ordinary earners, senior citizens, or those struggling to make ends meet." Let me correct A.I. Smith. I am a senior who is not a rich affluent elitist, I do worry about making ends meet, I don't drive a Mercedes (actually a Honda), and I have received tickets in the mail that have made me cringe. And I still don't like what Sheena Hughes and Cam MacKay stand for. A.I. Smith gives too much credit to Hughes and MacKay by saying they "maintain ... some vigilance on keeping the lid on spending." Smith should know that all of council makes decisions on spending, not just two members of it. I realize that Hughes and MacKay like to send out the message that they in particular are responsible for this, when in fact they are wrong. If there is a lid on spending, all of our council is responsible for that, not these two in particular. If you want to give credit, it should be done correctly and fairly. If I were Smith, I would be careful to stereotype people. I am not the person he/she describes, yet I have serious problems with Councillors Hughes and MacKay and how they decide to spin a conversation in a fashion to trump themselves. And I guess that has worked on A.I Smith. With me, however, I will be looking elsewhere with my vote. Janice Stewart, St. Albert
