Editor, The Beacon:

Richard Paiva is presenting himself as a candidate who would make the DeLand City Commission more diverse because he is older than anyone currently on the commission. So, let’s use the current concept of diversity, equity and inclusion to see how this applies.

DEI is defined as three closely linked values held by many organizations that are working to be supportive of different groups of individuals, including people of different races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, genders and sexual orientations.

While Mr. Paiva is correct that his age would make him different from the other commission members, it seems disingenuous to put that in the category of diversity. If this is his concern, perhaps he could have recruited someone to serve on the commission who better reflects the diversity in our community in terms of the groups mentioned above.

One does not have to be old to understand the needs of older residents, if they are in an occupation that regularly serves the elderly, such as a physician, an elder law attorney, a psychologist, or an insurance agent — like Mr. Harper Hill.

Mr. Paiva has also attempted to clarify his comment regarding Rotary: “How many former Rotary presidents do we need on the DeLand City Commission?”

Many Rotarians found this insulting. To be a Rotarian, one must be a person of high moral character and follow our four-way test: Of the things we think, say and do, we ask ourselves:

Is it the truth?

Will it be fair to all concerned?

Will it build goodwill and better friendships?

Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Would it not be better for all political offices to be held by Rotarians, who follow the objectives of Rotary and provide service to the community?

Mr. Paiva has certainly not followed the four-way test as evidenced by his recent mailers and comments to the media. While Mr. Paiva has since praised Rotary and noted that he and several family members were once Rotarians, I wonder why they are not now.

Karen L. Weiss, Ph.D.
DeLand