To the editor:

In his Nov. 4 letter to the editor, Bill Skepnek chastises local Republicans for punishing one of their own, Mark Buhler, a Republican candidate for state senator.

According to Skepnek, 1,613 Republicans voted for Reform Party candidate Jim Mullins and threw the race to Democrat Marci Francisco.

First, Skepnek decries the lack of party unity concerning Buhler’s race, then, incredibly, writes, “This year I voted for one Republican, and he lost. I voted Democrat for president, for the first time, and he lost.”

Second, Skepnek commends Buhler for being loyal to his principles. What if there are Republicans whose principles are more in line with Mullins’ principles? Does Skepnek expect those Republicans to be disloyal to their principles for the sake of a party unity from which he exempts himself?

Third, Skepnek has no way of knowing the party affiliations of the people who voted for Mullins. If erstwhile Republican Skepnek has no problem voting for a liberal Democrat for president, is it not possible that some liberal/moderate Republicans voted for Francisco? Why does Skepnek spare these Republicans from his wrath?

Lastly, at the time Skepnek wrote his letter, Francisco’s lead over Buhler was just 1,052 votes, fewer than the number of votes Mullins had received. However, when all the votes had been counted, Francisco had received 15,614 votes to Buhler’s 13,496 votes, a difference of 2,118 votes. Mullins received 1,968 votes. If all of Mullins’ votes had gone to Buhler, Francisco still would have won by 150 votes.

Kevin Groenhagen,

Lawrence