Whether you grew up in Greenfield or you are a relatively new resident like me, you probably have similar concerns for the future of the city: how do we maintain a good school system; how do we control taxes; how do we revitalize our downtown; and how do we work together on all the hard tasks that must be done?
The next mayor needs to navigate these difficult choices by listening, by applying experience and judgment, and by building consensus among factions that make it hard for us to move forward.
I first met RoxannWedegartner on the day of her announcement in February. Several days later we met to talk about her campaign and her desire to be mayor of Greenfield. I have since looked at all the candidates and listened to their appeals. The one candidate who stands out to me as having the experience, the leadership qualities, the energy and the skill to work with all members of city government and the people whom they serve is Roxann.
She has described how she will address challenges we face, from fixing our schools to curbing our taxes, to addressing the problems of homelessness and housing. She has defined ways she uses her experience as a trainer and her ability to build consensus toward a common goal by consulting with experts, listening to a range of opinions, weighing the information, and then making the tough decisions.
Many of those decisions are overdue, and the cost of our delays grows daily. We need a mayor who has a vision for our city, extensive knowledge of its needs, is experienced in working with town departments, is skilled in assessing possible solutions, and who is prepared to lead from day one.
Join me in voting for RoxannWedegartner on Sept. 10.
Sara S. Hemphill
Greenfield