The Board of Selectmen produced a flyer using language that encouraged the passage of certain warrant articles. Herein public resources were used to produce, duplicate and bulk mail this flyer to all Epping Residents. Were your civil rights violated?

The Conservation Commission and the Planning Board also used Taxpayer paid assets to produce and mail a flyer using language that promoted  their interests and issues, respectively. Were your civil rights violated?

The School Board and certain School District employees over whom the Board has jurisdiction engaged in activities, which used public resources to advocate a single point of view. For example:

	The School Board allowed the use of public resources by a political action group known as The Epping Advocates, a private organization, in support of a telephone bank at the polling place.
	The School Board allowed the use of The Principal's Corner carried in the Elementary School newsletter Cool News.  written by Principal Mark Vallone, to advertise and thereby advance the political agenda of The Epping Advocates by advertising the URL of their website. Here is what Principal Vallone said: "Does Your Vote really influence what happens at Epping Elementary School?  Yes.  Cuts or additions in the overall school budget may result in cuts or additions in elementary school programs.  The deficit of $250,000 in this year's budget was brought on by major increases in the cost for Special Education services that are mandated by federal laws. If the warrant article to pay for this deficit fails to pass, this will have a major impact on our schools.  Higher salaries for teachers may help keep good teachers in Epping and attract good candidates for new positions.  Purchasing the land near the schools gives the District options for the future.  Elementary School experiences[?] because our school shares the same parking lot and access road with the current Epping Middle High School. [Emphasis added] "Parents and community members form new group called The Advocates[.]  There is a  group of parents and community members who have together to discuss school issues.  They call themselves The Advocates and have set up a website -- www.theEpping cost.com" See links (below) to Court opinion deeming these activities by public employees violations of the law. Were your civil rights violated? The Epping Advocates' website promoted a one-sided political agenda pertinent to issues going before the voters. The Epping Advocates' website promoted a slate of candidates who were favorable to their political agenda. Note: Per Bonner-Lyons, the First District Court of Appeals held that use of public resources by a  "private group " is an  "...example of an impermissible selective opening of a forum to a group whose views are favored..."The Court said  to find a  more clear example "... is difficult to imagine." Were your civil rights violated?
	The School Board allowed the production and distribution of one-sided political bulletins along with Cool News, on school premises. School classrooms, public assets, were used to distribute these political documents to Elementary School children who then carried them home to their parents. More recent Court opinion has frowned upon children being used as "mules," to borrow a word from the court, for these political purposes. Were your civil rights violated?
	The School Board allowed the use of the School District's  bulk mail permit to mail one-sided political documents that encouraged Epping residents to vote a certain way. In the first place,  the bulk mail permit is public property, paid for by all Epping taxpayers.  Secondly, the money used to cover the additional cost for postage was also public property. Were your civil rights violated?

Epping Residents for Principled Government Inc. spends its own money to make its voice heard above those in positions of power; namely: elected and appointed public officials and public employees. We do not have, at our disposal, the use of vast taxpayer funded public resources, nor their equivalence in distribution channels. The vastness of these resources, accorded to some but not to all, is a violation of the civil rights of those who are denied them but taxed to pay for them.