Town Manager Reviewing Andover Official's Profanity-Laden Tweet

ANDOVER, MA -- Andover's director of veterans services is being criticized for a profanity-laced tweet urging people to vote for Democrats. Alicia Reddin sent the message on Twitter from a personal account. In addition to her work for Andover, Reddin, of Billerica, had run for state representative as a Democrat before withdrawing.

"Jaded ass people," Reddin posted on July 20. "You caused this. Now: UN-[expletive deleted] YOURSELF and get these slime sucking republican [expletive deleted] out of office!!!!!! REGISTER. VOTE BLUE. REPEAT."

Patch has reached out to Reddin for comment and will update this story if she gets back to us. In a follow-up post on Twitter shortly after her original, July 20 tweet, Reddin wrote "In all seriousness - if you or your family are - not registered to vote, did not vote in the Mid-Terms or for a blue candidate For Congress and Senate.... all of this is absolutely your fault. #Tre45on #Fbr #BlueTsunami2018."

On Friday afternoon, Andover Town Manager Andrew Flanagan said he was "extremely disappointed" and "evaluating the incident."

"I am extremely disappointed in the choice of words and tone portrayed in that personal post as it appears to reflect on the ability of the division to act objectively and with sensitivity to the needs of all of our veterans," Flanagan said in a statement emailed to Patch. "We must remember that at all times our words and actions are a reflection of the municipal organization and we have an obligation to uphold its integrity to those we serve. I can assure all of our veterans that the division will continue to operate with that in mind and that the Town cannot overemphasize the respect which we have for their contributions."

Reddin has since deleted the tweets and her personal Twitter account. A screen shot of both messages was posted on Andover Cares About Our Schools & Town, a closed Facebook group where residents discuss local issues. The reaction was mixed from people who commented on the post.

"Most Veterans I know are conservative. Her tirade against Republicans is so out of line for her people.This almost sounds like a set-up of some kind. She can't be that prejudiced and that dumb? Can she?" one poster said.

"Omg, what a fool," added another.

Still, others chimed in to offer support for Reddin.

"Well she has a lot to her credit, and this president is notorious for bringing out unbecoming behavior in veterans, in part in reaction to him dodging the draft six times," another commenter said. "With great passion comes the risk of hauling off in the wrong place. She already torpedoed her career with that 'send' button. Hopefully she'll figure out a way to make amends...hard lesson."

In June, Reddin received an award for being name the top veteran services officer in Massachusetts. ""Alicia is truly dedicated to ensuring that veterans in our community are connected with the resources they have earned," Flanagan said in a news release announcing the award. "I'm enormously proud of the work she's done, both for veterans in our community and for those throughout the commonwealth through MVSOA, and she is extremely deserving of this honor."

In December, Flanagan adopted a social media policy covering the social media accounts run by the Town of Andover. But Andover does not have a policy covering personal social media use by town employees.

Reddin, a Navy veteran, joined the Town of Andover as its director of veteran services in March after previously working as a veterans service officer in Melrose, Wakefield and Saugus. In January, Reddin withdrew from the race for Billerica's 22nd Middlesex District seat, citing a desire to focus on her new position in Andover. Rep. Marc Lombardo, a Republican, has held the seat since 2010.

"As sometimes happens, life had other plans – I was recently offered a professional opportunity with a new Veteran Services office," Reddin said in a statement posted on her campaign website, which also said she was considering future runs for office. "As a family we have weighed our options, and felt it best to continue honestly, and in the spirit of transparency and accountability. At this time I am going bow out of the race for State Representative of the 22nd Middlesex District for the 2018 cycle."

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Photo by the Committee to Elect Alicia Reddin.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).