To the editor:
I am seeking a fifth term on Sheffield’s Select Board and respectfully ask voters for their votes in our town elections on Monday, May 12.
I am running because I know I can continue to make positive contributions, as I have done in my previous 12 years on the Select Board, and I enjoy the job.
Here are my priorities for the next three years, if elected:
- Strengthen Sheffield’s finances, including money from grants, state programs, and other available sources, lowering expenses (where possible), and increasing efficiency;
- Carry out all aspects of the Select Board member’s job, including anticipating Sheffield’s future beyond the current fiscal year, hiring a new Town Administrator, and finishing the highway garage;
- Actively engage state and other organizations by advocating for Sheffield’s interests and needs, seeking more funding, (especially for roads, bridges, education, and housing), and exploring new non-taxpayer revenue sources; and
- Increase transparency and citizen involvement and respect all residents and encourage their participation in local government.
These may look familiar as they have been my basic priorities during my prior years on this board.
While Sheffield has always faced the same basic challenges, their intensity is likely to increase over the next three years as the costs of everything go up and the impacts of actions in Washington play out. It is important to have proven experience and knowledge on the Select Board.
My decades of experience on town boards, volunteering with local nonprofits, and prior work experiences help me leverage my time and effectiveness in getting countless things done for Sheffield residents.
I have a reputation for being ethical and honest, treating residents with respect, returning phone calls/emails, being responsive to residents’ concerns and viewpoints, getting things done, and having endless energy. I work for all of Sheffield and follow the advice Janet Stanton and David Macy gave me years ago: Do what you believe is best for the entire town, not your personal opinion or that of a small group. Good advice then; good advice now.
Thank you in advance for helping to elect me to Sheffield’s Select Board.
Rene Wood
Sheffield
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