Dear Incumbent:

When I voted for you, I became part of a majority that put you into office with an explicit mandate to carry out all those things you promised to support and to do.

But my vote included in that mandate never implied that you were to unconditionally support an intransigent partisan position that flatly refused to negotiate or compromise and that ultimately led to the stopping of our state's legislative heartbeat.

Is that want you thought I wanted?

I never expected to get everything that was promised (and certainly not this abyss); I just wanted you to get me the best deal you could as you fulfilled your public responsibilities and worked the art of the possible.

Or perhaps you were not thinking about me but were focused on your larger role in partisan objectives -- or possibly the fact that I probably have a short memory?

Let me remind you that I am part of that majority that actually put you in office the last time -- not your partisan peers.

Let me also assure you that I will have no trouble remembering the title "incumbent" during future elections.

Yours truly,

ROBERT SMITH, WYOMING, MINN.

Minnesota voter