Why didn't Bob Lafleur and the North Smithfield School Committee factor into the 2006 teachers' contract and subsequent budgets sports, music, kindergarten, operating costs for the middle school, etc.? Why didn't they refuse to listen to the Town Council and its panel of experts including James Cournoyer, Dave Lasalle and Edward Yazbak? Why didn't they make a budget before raising teachers' salaries and benefits way beyond what the town can afford at the expense of the children and taxpayers?

I'll tell you why; because all they care about is teachers. They don't care about the children or the taxpayers. Do you think they care if we all go bankrupt paying for these generous salary and benefit increases year after year? Now just another $102 in taxes. And now here comes the budget guru himself, the great Edward Yazbak and his friend Bob Lafleur coming to rescue the town for a seat at the table of this ungodly bunch? Are you nuts?

This is the same Edward Yazbak, that along with Linda Thibault, allowed Bob Lowe's close friend Vincent J. Mesolella to run roughshod over my neighborhood for the last seven years. And Bob Lafleur you may have the unmittigated gall to threaten the Town Council about the upcoming elections if they don't vote for more taxes because of your arrogance and incompetence in planning the school budget? Melissa Flaherty you were the one who tried to shut down debate by the Town Council that time about the bully teachers' union forcing our taxes higher when you said, "I wish people would stop bashing teachers." I say, "Stop bashing the taxpayers of this town. Not one cent more for schools."

If my brother and I had run our roofing company the way Bob Lowe and Bob Lafleur and the rest of this bunch is running the School Committee and this town, we would have gone bankrupt.

I can understand why Dave Lovett voted for more taxes this week. He almost always votes against what's right for this town; a true loyalist who works as an analyst for the State Assembly, thanks to Bob Lowe of course. I was disappointed to see Paul Zwolensky vote to support the override and against the taxpayer. No too consistent with his teaching of what is it, Quantitative Analysis at Johnson and Wales? And Linda Thibault, why weren't you even at the meeting to fight for the taxpayers of this town?

This town needs new people with common sense and loyalty to the taxpayers of this town. We need new candidates for public office at all levels. Why, I may consider running for the Town Council myself. Who would like to run with me?

Leo O. Defond,

North Smithfield