Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, it’s interesting to note that while all eight Democrat and Independent legislative candidates (Beebe-Center, Geiger, Doudera, Matlack, Pluecker, Collamore, Reny, Eaton) have voiced unequivocal support for a woman’s right to control her own reproductive choices, 100 percent of the Republican candidates who have made statements (Rocknak, Sprague, Robinson) either do not support, or do not fully support, choice.

Sixty-two percent of Republican candidates (Tranfaglia, Butterworth, Madison, Simmons, Joyce) had conveniently failed to issue a public statement as of June 25.

I hope local reporters continue to press for answers on this question of fundamental human rights, not only from our legislative candidates, but from every elected official in Knox County, including Select Board members, county commissioners and district attorneys.

With its decision to strike down a key Constitutional right, the Supreme Court, now controlled by ideological henchmen of the far-right Republican Party, will turn armies of liberals and moderates into single-issue voters.  If a candidate — local, state or national —  cannot demonstrate unambiguous support for the basic human right to control one’s own body, their positions on other issues become irrelevant.

Mary Winchell lives in Camden