THE Citizen's reference to 'the Idle Toad Party' (April 15) may lead readers to think that the Idle Toad is a political party.

It isn't; it is a regular monthly newsletter that tells everyone what's going on and what two local councillors - Barrie Yates and myself - are doing for the people they represent.

The Idle Toad has no members: it has readers.

The readers who have volunteered to stand for election in the name of the Idle Toad all share the basic belief that elected representatives should tell the voters what they are doing in their name, and on their behalf, so that they can say whether or not they agree.

Councillors, and all other elected representatives, must be accountable to the people they represent.

They must not be the puppets of the party bosses, being told what to do, what to say and what to think.

They must think for themselves, listen to the electors and do their best to meet the needs and wishes of the community.

That's what being a councillor is all about.

Tom Sharratt, Coupe Green, Hoghton

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.