To the editor:

Mr. Doherty is right. I'm a Democrat, as are some others who regularly attend meetings of the legislature, but this has nothing to do with the sheer nastiness that has characterized meetings since he became Chair.

Doherty is a freshman legislator and he may not be aware of how the body has functioned in the past, but I've attended many legislative sessions over the years and I can attest to the fact that what's going on now is not normal.

Prior to the last election, Republican Luis Alvarez served as Chair for four years and under his leadership both legislators and members of the public displayed the courtesy and respect that everyone has a right to expect in a public forum.

But Doherty seems to feel he has the right to interrupt, insult and belittle everyone in the room. His behavior toward women is abhorrent. Last Thursday when a woman rose to speak during the Public Comment period he cut her off and told her how she must introduce herself. He did this even though he wasn't chairing the meeting or even a voting member of the committee.

If you want solid proof that all of this has nothing to do with party politics and everything to do with Rob Doherty, consider this: At the same meeting he called a fellow Republican legislator a “punk” because he didn't like what he had to say. Party affiliation didn't protect him from Doherty's wrath.