DISCLAIMER: This is a letter to the editor. These are the thoughts, opinions and experiences of a local citizen and do not reflect the views of the entire staff.

We have come to a point in our political lives where baser instincts are no longer suppressed but are in fact put on a pedestal. There is no shame felt by some seeking office to gain the voters support through demonizing and misrepresenting their opponents on a scale seldom seen in our history. Donald J. Trump has led the way in this strategy for those who aspire to political positions.

We’d like to believe we can keep it out of our local politics and for the most part, over the years, we have. Denton elections are supposed to be apolitical and a candidates success should be based on what he or she brings to the table that will make our city a great place to live, work and play.

We have two candidates vying for the Place 5 at large City Council seat. Aaron Newquist and Deborah Armintor. Both have commendable credentials that makes them viable candidates for the City Council seat. And until recently both spoke to their strengths and demonstrated civility towards each other. But then the Trump state of mind kicked in with one candidate.

In a letter to Robson Ranch constituents, who have a higher percentage of Republican voters over Democrats, Mr. Newquist attacked Ms. Armintor by referring to her as “a liberal democrat with far-left policy ideas that are out of step with the people of the City of Denton and Robson Ranch.”

In a subsequent mailer Mr. Newquist sent out he referred to Ms. Armintor, a Professor of English literature at UNT, as “Dangerous Deb”. Without providing any details to sustain this maligning of her character Mr. Newquist, who also refers to himself as “Fuzzy”, belittled her for her associations with a progressive group in Denton and her support for sanctuary cities.

The dog whistle comments referring to liberals and illegal immigrants is clear to anyone who pays the smallest attention to politics these days, especially if their source of news is from right wings news sites and blogs. And the suggestions on some of these mailers that Deb’s election to the city council will pose a threat to our way of life here in Denton or raise taxes and increase spending is typical right wing grist for the mill. There is no basis in fact that would support this extreme view of Ms. Armintor

This type of fear and smear approach to city elections has for the most part been absent over the history of city elections. We don’t want candidates to stoke our base fears, often grounded in misinformation, to elevate themselves to elective office. It shows a serious lack of integrity when one resorts to such low-brow behavior.

It is my sincere hope that Denton voters will dismiss these tactics and vote instead in ways that reflects we are above this growing malignancy in our body politics

                                                                                                     - Larry Beck, Denton Tx