I witnessed the Oct. 3 mayoral debate on local television and saw instructive differences between the two candidates, City Councilor Virginia “Ginny” DeSorgher and Mayor RoxannWedegartner. I greatly appreciated the range of questions. One of them pointedly asked Wedegartner to speak to her relations with people in general and staff and the council specifically. She chose to say that she listens to people, she is firm, “the buck stops here.” That was a poor response to criticisms about not listening to anyone. Roxann’s verbal attacks on Ginny’s character really stood out as inappropriate. I just wanted to hear a clean presentation of Wedegartner’s perspective on the issues.
DeSorgher came across as the knowledgeable next-door neighbor. I liked her plan for our increasing aging population that will need more affordable housing than we currently have. She defended our teachers and school staff’s need for a fair wage and our support. She insists that there is full, not reduced, public safety coverage. One of them dropped names to alert us to her relationships with legislators and businesses, hinting that her business alliances are what will bring prosperity to Greenfield. One of them spoke of long years of volunteerism in Greenfield and being an ER nurse. Then, take note of her experience with fiscal decision-making as City Council Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, a member of the city’s Planning Board, and the Commission on Disability Access. One candidate works a corporate model with a belief in an authoritarian leader. That means less appreciation for the active, involved citizen. The other candidate, Ginny DeSorgher, represents a collaborative model with a leader who administrates the citizens’ expressed will. Be sure to vote on Nov. 7. My vote is for all of us, neighbors, thinking and working together and Ginny DeSorgher for mayor.
Aisha-Sky Gates
Greenfield