Medina deputy mayor urges support for Sherman and Henderson

Editor:

Whether I’m writing an endorsement letter or a love letter to my community, this feels like the right time to share what I’m feeling as we enter another village election.

I didn’t grow up in Orleans County. But in 2020 as so many of us were passing each other on the sides of the roads (notably not the sidewalks!), I know I wasn’t the only one who suddenly found myself paying closer attention to the five miles or so closest to home.

Through that experience, and through the mentorship of Mayor Sidari, I was introduced to the people who quietly keep this village running: department heads, employees, volunteers, and neighbors who care deeply about this place.

Serving on the Village Voard has revealed the secret to the magic here: Medina works because its people work together. Our school district, village departments, surrounding towns, businesses, volunteers, and faith communities constantly collaborate to get things done. In a community our size, that kind of partnership is something special. It’s the delicate balance of those entities that keeps our community alive.

Some of those partnerships extend beyond the village – because imaginary lines don’t void out the need for life-saving responses. I’m not the first, and won’t be the last to talk about MFD.

However, I will use this opportunity to briefly say that the firefighters protecting this community, career firefighters and volunteers alike, care about making sure the folks keeping us safe have what they need to do their jobs. These folks have looked into the face of hell. They aren’t moved by the absolute fact that the village residents pay more than town residents for near-identical service. They know a lot of things I don’t know. They know what it looks like when the right equipment didn’t get there in time.

When I think about this election, I think about the representatives who will help keep our community safe, affordable, and connected. Our experts know what they need, but we can’t afford to send out blank checks. It’s our job to figure out those details.

We need to elect representatives who are prepared to share decision-making with the voters and are able to see a complete picture of what the majority of the residents need from the village.

For Mayor, that candidate is Marguerite Sherman. Marguerite cares deeply about Medina and understands the balance required to lead a community like ours. I trust that she will always act with the best interests of the village at heart.

For Trustee, the candidate with the most to offer is Courtney Henderson. Despite her briefer period of residency, Courtney has made it her mission to learn about our community. Her commitment to listening to residents and understanding issues before forming opinions is exactly what local government needs. Her website, Your Voice Your Village, is already set up for village residents to submit their thoughts and desires for the village’s future.

If you live within the village limits and have never voted before, I hope March 18 will be your first of many trips to the Senior Citizens Center to remind our village that every voice deserves to be heard. Polls are open from noon to 9 p.m., and the firefighters’ union is offering free rides to and from the polls to any resident who requests them, no ballot questions asked.

And I hope you’ll fill in the bubble for Marguerite Sherman for Mayor and write in Courtney Henderson for Trustee.

Jess Marciano

Medina Deputy Mayor and resident