Houseknecht is a proven leader, cool under pressure

Posted 6 September 2017 at 10:20 pm

Editor:

It’s Primary season and signs are everywhere. Signs work great at getting the candidates’ names out in the public but do very little to actually tell us much about these candidates’ characters.

Ed Houseknecht is running for Shelby Town Supervisor. You will see his signs out in the community but this is what the signs won’t tell you.

I have known Ed both personally and professionally for over thirty years. I first met him when he was the Superintendent of Public Works for the Village of Medina. It was in October of 1989 following the horrific storm that came through the Village. Power lines were down on the ground, trees went through roofs, branches and limbs were everywhere, and roads were impassable.  Anyone who was a resident at the time will remember this very well.

Mayor Marcia Tuohey decided early in the aftermath of the storm that all aspects of the cleanup project were to go through Ed. He was constantly present on the job, just about 24/7. Ed was always working with his crews and was able to make outstanding decisions in the middle of the chaos. When anyone in the community offered to help, all Ed asked for was food and coffee for his crews.  Ed managed to accomplish all of this and stay within the Department of Public Works’ budget.

It seemed to me that he had accomplished just about the impossible, and that was my first impression of Ed Houseknecht. I could easily describe numerous other examples, but suffice it to say that my positive impression has only strengthened over the years – cool under pressure, effective, and a natural leader.

You can read all of the signs and all of the ads in the newspapers, but this is what they don’t tell you.

Thank you all so much for your time.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Eileen Hare

Ridgeway