letters to the editor/opinion

Highway workers praised for efforts clearing roads in snowstorm

Posted 17 November 2019 at 10:15 am

Editor:

On behalf of the Orleans County Legislature, I wish to share our appreciation to all of the Highway Departments across Orleans County and to our First Responders for taking quick action during our first snow fall of this season.

Public safety is a very high concern for the Legislature and we made it through this early snowfall thanks to everyone’s dedication. Your actions did not go unnoticed.

Thank you.

Lynne M. Johnson, Chairman

Orleans County Legislature

Country’s founders took oaths of office very seriously

Posted 14 November 2019 at 4:09 pm

Editor:

I write about impeachment so people know the basics without all the bickering.

First: The President and Congress are all required to take an oath to uphold our laws and Constitution. Our framers took oaths very seriously!

An oath meant you were putting your soul, your reputation, and your place in history on the line. Gentlemen, with internal moral compasses, were expected to know the difference between what is meant to fully and faithfully carry out our laws and Constitution and anything that served other purposes.

Second: Our founders were extremely concerned to avoid the prospect of there ever being a king, a strongman, or dishonorable person who put themselves first. Therefore anyone who violated the oath could be removed for “bribery, extortion, and other high crimes and misdemeanors.”

They did not distinguish between an attempted bribe or if the bribe or extortion worked or not or anything else that violated the oath. If the President (with or without anyone helping him/her) took any actions that sounded like bribery they were betraying their oath. For criminal purposes, and not impeachment, there are certainly lots of ins and outs for each and every criminal act. (Clinton got impeached but did not get removed from office as his perjury did not affect putting the Country first.)

All sort of words are getting tossed about – due process, having the whistle blower testify, refusing to answer questions or respond to subpoena’s etc. A couple of comments about basics are important.

1)  Law keeping the confidence of whistle blowers predates the Constitution!

2) The processes being used reflect Congresses past practices. Intelligence matters and grand jury are secret. The House is simply acting as a grand jury. The fact that the President can hear the witnesses and cross examine them in the House (and before trial in the Senate) is not in the Constitution but is what was done for Clinton.

It seems like either public relations or a ploy hoping the Supreme Court will interfere with long-standing Congressional processes.

3) Congress has the right to issue any subpoena it wants and has its own authority to jail anyone who does not comply. The exceptions are for presidential secrets or anyone else if they go to court to quash the subpoena as improper. In the past Congress and the President work out a compromise.

But a) generally once anyone talks about a Presidential secret or any issue in public any claim of privilege vanishes and b) Congress almost never uses its independent power to hold people in contempt for not going to court as it does not have jails and would have to rent them out or build them.

There is simply no existing right to just refuse a subpoena. I am thinking that the President hopes the Supreme Court will agree with a legal defense that he can do anything he wants anytime – in a Appeals Court last month one of his attorneys claimed the President could actually kill people and not be stopped.

Attorney General Barr who has also sworn allegiance to Opes Die seems to believe that. It’s a dangerous idea!

Conrad Cropsey

Albion

In holding up aid to Ukraine, Trump violated oath of office

Posted 14 November 2019 at 8:36 am

Editor:

A partial list of Republicans who are familiar with the Constitution includes Mark Sanford, John Kasich, William Weld, Charlie Dent, Mitt Romney and Jeff Flake. I suspect most of that group also have an idea why Mr. Putin wanted Donald Trump in the White House.

Then there is the group that includes Kevin McCarthy, Jim Jordan, Tom Reed, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, et. al. This bunch either has no idea what constitutes impeachable offenses or have never actually read the Constitution. Perhaps they are just good at playing dumb.

As I recall, officials of the executive and judicial branches may be impeached by the House and—if convicted by a 2/3 vote of the Senators present—removed from office for “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”

Article II, section 4 does not specify whether one has to receive  bribes or offer them, as in, “If you give me what I want on my political opponents, I will give you what you desperately need (as in military aid to fight the Russians).” And I believe it was James Madison who used the word “misdemeanors.”

Part of the Constitutional definition of treason includes “giving aid and comfort” to the enemies of the United States. But Republican demagogues such as Tom Reed using the disingenuous device of suggesting that impeachment and removal from office is some sort of “execution” is pathetic.

That tactic is simply an attempt to muddy the waters for people who must work for a living and do not have enough time to keep up with all the nonsense put out in the “Tweet Parade.” Misleading people is exactly what Representative Reed attempted to do in an interview with Margaret Brennan on “Face the Nation” (November 3rd).

Article II, section 3 says flatly that the President “. . . shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” It is part of his oath of office. Once Congress appropriated $391 million in assistance to Ukraine and the President signed it, as I read the Constitution, it was his Constitutional duty to execute the will of Congress. When he tried to make delivery of the military aid contingent on Ukraine’s leader announcing an investigation of the Bidens, he was violating his oath of office under the Constitution. I strongly suspect most Constitutional scholars would say that alone arguably constitutes an impeachable offense.

By the way, Article II, Section 1, clause 8 requires the President to “. . . preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Yet some of the same “leaders” who went after Clinton in the Lewinsky affair want to give the current occupant of the White House a pass on something far more egregious than Clinton was impeached for.

For the record I don’t think impeachment is a good idea.

Sincerely yours,

Gary Kent

Albion

Ridgeway candidate appreciates support, asks residents to be more involved in local government

Posted 12 November 2019 at 5:18 pm

Editor:

With the 2019 election in the books now for a week, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the voters in the Town of Ridgeway who came out and voted for me.

I would also like to congratulate Brian Napoli on winning another term as your Town Supervisor. Brian has and will continue to serve in an honorable way as the gentleman he is.

When I set out in March to run for this position I was honored to meet with people who signed my petition as a Democrat. During the last six months I have also had a chance to speak with people about some of the things that they feel are important to them.

One thing is certain people are passionate about their community. I look forward to getting more involved locally in the future and again want to say thank you for those who supported me.

If I can add it’s my desire that more people engage in their local community government by attending meetings, asking questions and holding our representatives accountable.

Sincerely,

Michael Maak

Ridgeway

Medina resident appreciates help with snow-covered driveway

Posted 12 November 2019 at 3:59 pm

Editor:

I am unable to clean my driveway – broken arm – and put out a plea on Facebook. No one but a friend in the UK responded, and it made me feel so helpless.

I watch neighbors with big trucks and snowblowers, ignoring my dilemma – next thing is I see the candidate for Ridgeway town supervisor hand shoveling me out. You are a gentleman and my hero, Michael Mack, your mother and father would be so proud. Thank you ever so much.  Sometimes everything is right in my world. I’ll pay it forward.

Debby Rodrigues

Medina

Diplomats swore allegiance to U.S., not Trump

Posted 11 November 2019 at 6:39 pm

Editor:

President Trump is accused of using taxpayer-approved foreign aid for his own personal profit and to subvert U.S. national interest. Republican supporters of Mr. Trump are critical of the testimony by witnesses under oath claiming that the witnesses are “never Trumpers.”

The witnesses include career diplomats Marie Yovanovitch and William Taylor as well as career military personnel Lt. Col Alexander Vindman. They have all sworn allegiance to the Constitution of the United States. They did not swear allegiance to Donald Trump.

None of the President’s supporters are disputing the facts. The testimony that has come out shows that the President has used his position to profit personally, hamper our ally (Ukraine) and promote Russian agenda.

The President has tried to suppress evidence by claiming executive privilege on all evidence and testimony. It is interesting that two indicted witnesses, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, are being extended executive privilege because they did work for Rudy Giuliani. Republicans need to explain their support for subverting our foreign policy for personal gain of the President and I would like them to explain their loyalty to Donald Trump over our Constitution and rule of law.

William Fine

Brockport

Residential/agricultural zoned districts shouldn’t have industrial-size structures

Posted 5 November 2019 at 4:13 pm

Editor:

Property rights does not mean “without regard to others and without regard to local laws.” One cannot build anything/anywhere they desire – it’s called zoning for a reason.

Residents that own in Residential/Agriculturally zoned areas do not want commercial or industrial structures/buildings/businesses to infringe on their rights.

Also, Sean Pogue is the one who made this election only about wind turbines for himself. However, for the candidates for Citizens for Change, it is far more than turbines. His last plea to the community was all about the turbines, why? Because, he will lose money if the three of them are not elected.

Fact: Sean is listed as a conflicted member on Heritage Wind’s page. That means he stands to benefit from the proposed project. Notice Apex put a letter in as well. Paul works for them so of course he’s going to try to persuade voters in Barre – it’s a product he is trying to sell.

Vote Citizens for Change: Gerald Solazzo for Barre Supervisor, Cindy Burnside for Town Councilwoman and Kerri Richardson for Town Councilwoman.

Cindy Burnside

Barre

Murray election is chance for new representation, chosen by the people

Posted 5 November 2019 at 7:37 am

Editor:

With it time for local elections, I contemplate the state of politics within our own town of Murray. What many residents may not realize is that at least half of our present councilmen in office are there by appointment, which has become commonplace.

When later they run for election, it’s harder to remove an incumbent and so they stay. In other words, when a position becomes vacant, the list of pals gets pulled out, they close their eyes, spin around and play pin the tail on the donkey, or so it seems.

Why do this?  You might ask. Choosing a pal is more likely to ensure a “yes” vote. This group may be doing a good job at the helm, but who is to know? When surrounded by yes men, who’s to know if things could be done a little better? Or even a lot better? It’s like a recipe. It looks edible and it tastes okay but add a little of this and a touch of that and voila, so much better. You don’t know what you’re missing.

As you may know, my husband, Dirk Lammes, is involved in our local politics and presently has a seat on the Republican committee. Two years ago he and three others were able to fly under the radar of the establishment to force an inconvenient primary. It was then that Dirk received and angry phone call from an individual of the establishment who said, “What do you guys think you’re doing forcing a primary? These positions have been filled by appointment for 30 years!” Whoa.

And although Dirk and I have been bombarded with family distractions lately, and family always comes first, Dirk continues to have the same free thinking passionate pride in his community as always.  We’d both like to see some changes in leadership. Break the cycle of appointments. Bob Miller lost in the primary election when Joe Sidonio won under the Republican ticket. Joe also holds the Conservative and Independent lines. Be a humble and gracious man, Bob. Vote Joe Sidonio for Town Supervisor.

Sincerely,

Kathryn Lammes

Murray

Barre should have given senior citizens a tax break

Posted 5 November 2019 at 7:27 am

Editor:

In canvasing the area to discuss the opportunities our neighbors have for elections, we have found an underlying theme. For those over 65 there is a huge concern for taxes and how to pay them on a fixed income.

However, more than a year ago, in September of 2018, Dawn Allen, the Real Property Tax Director for Orleans County, gave a presentation informing the Barre Town Board that Barre is the only town in Orleans County that is not giving the lower-income senior citizens a tax break that could amount to 20 to 50% off their town tax bill.

To me it seemed like a no brainer. Of course, we would want to help out our senior citizens that are on a fixed income with this tax break. A year later, I called the tax director Dawn Allen to see if indeed our Town Board had followed her advice. Dawn’s reply was that we remained the only town in Orleans County that was not offering a tax break to these seniors.

The idea that the tax break proposed by Ms. Allen may have been overlooked in order to make the less palatable tax break from the possibility of industrial wind turbines seem more attractive regardless of the inherent evils and to further the interest of members of the town board seems reproachable. One certainly does wonder though, why didn’t they pass it then?

Iva Mckenna

Barre

Barre would see many benefits from turbine project

Posted 5 November 2019 at 7:07 am

Editor:

This is written for Barre residents.

Fact- The Town Board has been negotiating the Host Community Agreement with Heritage Wind and is close to finalizing it.

Fact- The payment per megawatt is very close to $8,900 per megawatt. Multiply that times a turbine that produces 5.6 megawatts per turbine. Multiply that times the 31 to 33 wind turbines for the project. hat results in a $1,545,040 to $1,644,720 the first year for the HCA and PILOT.

Fact- The town is looking at a 25-year renewable contract with the developer.

Fact- The amount of money increases each and every year by at least 2 percent.

Fact- Does the Town of Barre get all of that money? No. The PILOT takes some of it. Who is in the PILOT? The county, Albion Central School, the Library, the Fire District and the smallest portion goes to the town.

Fact- The town gets the majority of the money through the HCA. We feel the town should get 80% of the package and the PILOT gets 20%. That is the maximum we can get. The town is still negotiating how much will go to the PILOT.

Fact- The Town Board is fully in support of giving a property tax break to all property owners in Barre. How much, we don’t know yet. It comes down to: 1- number of wind turbines and 2- how much the county and school district require in the PILOT.

Fact- The town would benefit how? Lower taxes, new and improved roads, expansion and upgrades (electric, walking and exercise trails, soccer/lacrosse fields, handicap accessibility) of existing facilities in the Town Park, new fire hall, new town garage, jobs during the construction phase, any other projects that may come up in town.

In order for this to possibly happen you need to get to the polls and vote please.

Please do not be persuaded by rhetoric based on old technology from 20-30 years ago.

Sean P. Pogue, Town Supervisor

Margaret Swan, candidate for Councilwoman

LuAnn Tierney, candidate for Councilwoman

Barre

Candidates would bring change to Barre town government

Posted 5 November 2019 at 7:01 am

Editor:

Barre residents, we, the Citizens for Change candidates, want to serve all residents of Barre. We are excited to share some details and information with you to explain how we will make positive changes.

#1- Better Communication with Residents of Barre. The Town Board’s current forms of communication are the Batavia Daily, the Town Website, and Town Hall. We believe that these three methods leave many of our community unaware and uninformed. We would like to look at options that would not cost any more money, but that would improve communication with Barre residents.

For example, there are free text messaging services that could notify residents of special meetings or public hearings that are scheduled, if residents opted in to receive these notifications. Additionally, we will offer those updates through email at no additional cost. We will also look at sharing information on the Orleans Hub, or other sources, that would help keep the residents better informed.

An example of why communication needs to be improved: On the evening of Sunday, June 23, 2019, a post was made to the Town website that there would be a Special Town Board Meeting on Monday June 24 at 11 a.m. (the Town Hall opens at 10 a.m.) As written on the website, “There will be a special town board meeting on June 24th at 11 am to pass resolutions for the reimbursement agreement and water district #10. All are welcome.”

Providing less than 24 hours’ notice for a Town Board meeting on the Town website, and posting the notice in the Town Hall on Friday afternoon after the Town office was closed, is poor communication. In addition, when I attended this meeting, the Heritage Wind project developer and attorney were sitting at the table. Both live out of town, and I am confident that they did not set this meeting up with the same short notice as the public received. Citizens for Change would communicate better. There are other options, and Citizens for Change would like to implement them for you.

#2- Will Listen to All Residents of our Community. Sean Pogue stated, “I would like to know when we as a Town Board have not listened to the residents. Whether in meetings, face to face, phone calls or emails. We have listened and replied.” This is simply not true. A resident at our last Town Board meeting explained that he had emailed the Town in March and received no response. If you watch the Town Board meetings online, or had the opportunity to attend a meeting in person, you have seen that Town Board members, including our Supervisor, Sean Pogue, have leaned over and had brief conversations with the people sitting next to them while residents of our community are speaking. He has not given his full attention or followed up with residents about the concerns that have been brought up.

#3- Opposition to the Proposed Wind Turbine Project. Sean Pogue said, “We as a Town Board have been studying research for many years and have avoided being pushed into a fast decision. We have been bashed but believe me we are doing our due diligence.” Sean Pogue has a conflict of interest with the Heritage Wind project and he should be recusing himself from any and all actions associated with this project, including discussions and voting. He has failed to do so. Residents of Barre have requested that he recuse himself and he has not. Heritage Wind lists people who have a conflict of interest on their website.

#4- Transparency of Actions as We Work To Serve the Barre Community. Once again, having meetings behind closed doors, calling meetings last minute, and not recusing yourself when you have a conflict of interest are all reasons that many residents believe that there has not been transparency.

Article 6 of the New York State Public Officers Law is known as the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). FOIL requests have been submitted, including asking for text messages between the Town Supervisor and the Heritage Wind developer, along with information from other municipal officers, but information has not been shared or information has been omitted. This is not transparency.

#5- Alternative Tax Abatement. Citizens for Change will look into many ways to reduce our town taxes. One group of residents that could really benefit from a tax reduction are our low-income elderly. The Town of Barre is the only town in Orleans County that does not provide a tax credit to these individuals. This was brought up to the current Town Board about a year ago, but nothing has been done about it. Dawn Allen with Real Property sent the board a follow-up email about this concern, but that email was also not responded to.

#6- Work to Maintain and Preserve Home Rule in New York State. In January, the current Barre Town Board handed off their decision-making power about our town laws to state officials. Under the leadership of Sean Pogue, our Town Board made a resolution that would allow the New York State Siting Board to decide what our town laws should be regarding industrial wind turbines and the Heritage Wind project.

Please read the January 2019 Meeting Minutes and resolution that can be found on the Town of Barre website. We elected our Town Board to make the best decisions for our community and they gave that job to someone else who doesn’t live in our community.

Jerry Solazzo, Cindy Burnside and I are running for Town office because we want to serve all residents of Barre. We are running on this platform because many residents do not believe that these topics are being dealt with in the best interest of our Town. We hear you and want to represent you.

Kerri (McKenna) Richardson

Barre

Sidonio brings passion, optimism to Murray

Posted 4 November 2019 at 10:28 am

Editor:

About a week ago, Oct. 29, Joe Sidonio sat as the only citizen of the more than 3,000 residents of our town to attend the annual Town of Murray budget hearing. Customarily he asked well researched questions about projected expenditures, and how newly generated revenues are to be accounted for, and where funds would be resourced to cover shortfalls in town income.  Equally as customarily Town of Murray board members were unable to answer his questions.

Joe has attended every town of Murray board meeting, and every town of Murray planning board meeting that he can possibly attend for over 15 years. This interest, and this dedication, is extraordinary. Joe does this singularly because he believes in the possibility of a bright future for our community – and he bothers to become knowledgeable and educated about where we are now, and what steps need to be taken, and what questions need to be asked – to make that bright future become a reality.

Joe Sidonio is running for the position of supervisor of the Town of Murray as a public servant in order to make our community a better place to live.

Sadly detractors have slyly whispered suggestions – in gossip or on social media – that Joe does not wave enough, or that our dog traveled through a neighbor’s yard years ago, or that he questions trespassers on our property (in New York State the landowner is liable for all that happens on his or her property) or that Joe’s interest in becoming the supervisor of the town of Murray is self interested.

In fact, Joe is very friendly and cares about everyone. Joe is not interested in a NYS pension package or taxpayer funded health care or in getting something for nothing.  Since arriving in New York State he has worked for himself and has paid his own way and will continue to pay his own way every day for everything.

He gets nothing for free and does not expect to – yet he quietly contributes generously to organizations that he feels are deserving. If only all knew that his interest is in growing a community that is really wholesome – where government and citizens work to support one another – inclusive of new residents and old, youth and age, countryside and village.

There are real issues and tough challenges before us as a community.  Joe is a strong person who stands on principle, and has the strength of character to ask the questions, to do the homework – and the courage to improve government. We should all thank Joe for his many years’ worth of effort. Our very best thanks will be the votes we cast for him as Town of Murray supervisor on Tuesday.

Amy Machamer

Holley

(Machamer is married to Mr. Sidonio.)

Murray supervisor running write-in campaign to give residents a choice

Posted 4 November 2019 at 10:19 am

5Editor:

I wanted to let the people of Murray know that they do have a choice for Town Supervisor this year. I am running a Write-In campaign to keep my job. Many feel they lost their voice because they could not vote in the Primary Election.55

The Primary election in June was unusual, as it was a first for New York. Elections in Murray have been historically close lately, and in this instance, I did not secure a spot on the ballot. Many supporters expressed their regrets to me that they did not make it to the polls that day. That just presents me with a challenge to overcome. Do a successful Write-In campaign!

In going door-to-door, I am hearing a repeating theme from those who express support for my opponent. Good-Old-Boys club, change, and high taxes. It is difficult to change minds, when that is all they know, so I will offer some information on the truth behind these issues.

I retired a little over three years ago. I did not work in Murray, but commuted from here to Canandaigua daily, because I love living out here. Yet, I remain involved in my community in Rotary, Sons of the American Foreign Legion, VFW Auxiliary, and am a past Commissioner of the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire District.

My only relatives here were on my wife’s side, until my son started raising his family here, with my grandchildren attending Holley Schools. Some of the complaints about a good-old-boys-club I hear are from some people who have lived in this community much longer than I have. Our current Board has three of five new members in just the past two years, all by open elections. No good-old-boys club here. Perhaps when someone actually gets involved in their community, rather than watching from the sidelines, this perception might change.

Speaking of change, since when did change for the sake of change actually fix anything, particularly if it is not broken? Take a moment and think about that. If you do not like the way things are, or, if you think you have an idea to make it even better without throwing the baby out with the bath water, get involved!

On to taxes. My opponent, in his last race for this job, had previously cited on numerous occasions, that the Town of Murray had a 15 percent tax increase! That was true, if you counted two very tough economic years together from years ago. Now, however, we have had a flat tax rate for two years running, and our budget for 2020 projects a tax cut. Yes, flat taxes followed by a tax cut.

Now, my opponent complains we are using money from our fund balances. We are. We have fund balances due to conservative estimates of revenue, and realistic appropriations. The resultant fund balance was allocated to return the money to the taxpayer in a tax cut. We just figured you would like your money back in lower taxes.

The State Comptroller’s office agrees. Our Municipal Fiscal Stress Score is excellent, at 3.3 out of 100 (the lower the number, the better). My opponent has proposed we have up to one and a half times our operating budget in reserves. I would hate to get the tax bill to stockpile that kind of money, and I am pretty sure you would hate it too!5

I love my job. I have the opportunity to work with great people, who strive every day to do the best job possible for the people of Murray. Write-In campaigns are tough. But I ask for your support in this effort to keep Murray on the right track.

On Tuesday under “Supervisor” at the bottom of the ballot, in the row for Write-In, please write-in “Bob Miller.”

Respectfully,

Robert G. Miller

Supervisor for Town of Murray

Murray candidate wishes for kinder election process

Posted 4 November 2019 at 10:11 am

Editor:

I am saddened by the political atmosphere in our town these days. When I was a young man I said I’d never get involved in politics. The bickering, mud-slinging, the non-truths and the lengths that people would go to were disgusting to me. Unfortunately this has never been more true than now on both national and local levels.

The political environment has changed, worsened.  Good strong moral character is found in fewer and far between.

It was three years ago that I met Joe Sidonio. He came over one day, introduced himself and taught me about the election process. This sparked an unexpected interest in my town of Murray politics. In all of my 25 years of living in Murray, Joe has been the only political figure to show up at my front door for a chat. He spent time explaining his vision and his concerns.  He showed a genuine interest in the future of our town.

Over the years I have gotten to see Joe’s work ethic and the endless hours spent on town policies. Joe is impressive. As an observer, having had 30-plus years experience in self employment, I have dealt with a lot of people and have a good understanding and foundation in which to base my opinion.

We’re all human beings and not without flaws. None of us is perfect. There are, however, some values that I will not stray from. I feel that Joe Sidonio best meets those.

I struggle with the fact that Bob Miller did not concede to Joe Sidonio in this spring’s primary election. He doesn’t honor the votes of Joe’s constituents. It is likely to cause and even deeper divide. Murray has already spoken. To be humble in victory and gracious in defeat displays a strength of character and a level of honor.

As in national politics, in the Town of Murray there is a divide. Each side has their supporters. We need to stop carrying around such animosity. Be kinder.

As for me, my name is still on the ballot under the conservative and independent lines. I have not been out campaigning or putting out signs, for fear of being persecuted for party disloyalty, which I recently found out is not an issue after all – after reading recent emails that have circulated from the county republican chairman.

So when you set out to vote, look for Joe Sidonio and Dirk Lammes on the ballot. Thank You.

Yours truly,

Dirk Lammes

Murray

Fuller has proven passion in serving as Shelby highway leader

Posted 4 November 2019 at 6:54 am

Editor:

I am writing this letter to encourage voters to be mindful of their vote Tuesday for Shelby highway superintendent. My father, Mike Fuller, is running for re-election. He is not a born politician, just your average Joe with an unmatched work ethic.

He refuses to run his campaign with anything but his qualifications. This election season has been by far the most disheartening. Politics is a tough business, a lot of elbow grease is needed. But my father’s passion for his job and commitment to his community makes it all worth it.

I am writing to clarify some mis-truths that have come to my attention. I would first like to address the opponents’ mailer that recently went out. It states that “It is common sense: there is no politician that should ever be in office for 44 years!”

If Mr. Root or his funders had taken the time and effort to get the facts, they would know that Mike Fuller has only been in office for 14 years with 44 years of experience. Saying 44 years is too long to be doing something you love is like saying Mr. Root is unqualified to run his farm.

The next point to address that the opponent is running on is “Repairing a fractured relationship with the town board.” What has been left unsaid, for the voters to figure out on their own is why are they calling it a fractured relationship? While my father continues to work with the town board, he refuses to be a “yes man.”

He will not be bullied. He continues to put the taxpayers and highway department’s interests first whether it is the popular opinion or not. Being community oriented, standing your ground and doing the right thing is called being a leader. I think we all can agree the last thing this community needs is another yes man.

Mike Fuller is still the right man for the job. I’ve seen first hand, his commitment to this position and the taxpayers. He consistently goes above and beyond, often going in on Sundays to catch up on mowing cemeteries or to do paperwork because he has been out in the trenches with the guys all week. During the winter you will often see his truck there in the early hours loading the sanders to get the guys out on the roads quicker, all of which save overtime costs that come out of the taxpayer’s pocket.

“A good leader leads the people from above them. A great leader leads the people from within them.” – M.D. Arnold

I am asking you to be an informed voter. Please don’t be blinded by flashy signs and thousands of dollars’ worth of ads.

I think we all can agree how lucky we are to live in a country where we have the right to vote. If you ever thought your vote doesn’t matter, trust me it does. It matters to me. It matters to my dad. It matters to my family. It will matter at 3 a.m. in the middle of a snow storm. I encourage you to vote for what separates Mike Fuller from his opponent.

Sincerely,

Katie Crooks

Medina