Respect the voters. Agree to debate.

For a small village, there’s a lot of mud-slinging going on in East Rockaway, and it isn’t pretty. The tension is palpable. People are afraid to talk to one another, not knowing which political party someone may support — whether they’re “pro-Pride” or “pro-Freedom.”

There have been reports of fistfights, accusations of political sign stealing, threats to residents’ and businesses’ livelihoods and name-calling — and we may as well be in Dodge City from what we’ve heard of people wanting to run others out of town.

It doesn’t matter whose idea it was — we believe that a debate is a good idea in a contentious campaign such as this one. Arguments, misunderstandings and finger-pointing abound. The real issues are being overshadowed by accusations, emotions and party loyalty. Why not let the people see and judge — and eventually vote — for themselves?

Salaries? Taxes? Services? Let’s hear what the candidates have to say, in person, instead of reading about them in mass-produced mailings.

Is the issue the proposed site or the time of the debate? Then work it out. The League of Women Voters is known for conducting impartial, fair forums, so who moderates the debate isn’t the problem.

Arguments? Differences of opinion? That’s what campaigns are built on, but the back-door whispers only serve to inflame and incite mistruths.

We’ve heard enough about what has or hasn’t been done in the past. Who will be the best future leader of East Rockaway? The candidate with the best flier? The one with the best intentions and promises? Who has the interests of East Rockaway at heart? Who would be the best at carrying out those promises?

Only you, the voter, can decide. And the best way to be informed is to hear candidates’ positions in person, in a public forum, on topics that are important to you.

The election is less than four weeks away. We encourage the candidates to respect village residents by agreeing now to a fair, public candidates’ forum.