Letter to the Editor:
RE: Current Vacancy on the Selectboard
Recently, Professor Joerg Mayer, a distinguished and hardworking Selectboard member had to resign due to health reasons. I admire his tenacity and courage in fulfilling his duties despite his health problems. I wish him well in regaining his health. He was also concerned about the health of the town of Brattleboro and for that reason he endorsed Ms. Audrey Garfield as his replacement.
I couldn't agree with him more! She is an outstanding candidate and the best suited person for this vacant post. Given that she narrowly lost by 32 votes for the 3 year seat on the board and garnered more votes than Mr. Harold Dompier, it would seem reasonable to appoint this very talented woman.
I've had the pleasure to have worked with Ms. Garfield in various community projects over the years. As a lifelong resident of Brattleboro she has a deep and compassionate understanding of the people and the community. She has an excellent professional background and a demonstrated commitment to serving the people of Brattleboro. She was Director of Pathways for Youth - A drop in program for youth. As a Board member and president of Windham Child Care she was instrumental in restructuring the organization and improving the staff structure. She is a facilitator for the Brattleboro Area Prevention Coalition’s Guiding Good Choices workshop, a course that supports parents and their children in making positive choices. Currently, one of her key tasks is as a member of the Alliance for Building Community’s Community Team - It’s a team of community leaders that are dedicated to helping youth become healthy successful adults. If this work was not a demonstration enough of her commitments to the community, in addition to her full job directing a Social Service agency, she is on the board of the Brattleboro Area Alcohol and Drug Prevention Coalition. She has also been an invaluable member of the town of Brattleboro's Planning Commission and has made a significant contribution to promoting small businesses. She is a dynamic, intelligent, thoughtful and skilled person who brings an enormous wealth of management and professional experience to this position as a Selectboard member
The gentlemen on the Selectboard need to put partisan politics aside, avoid a prolonged expensive debate and demonstrate a serious commitment to democracy and fulfill the will of the voters who endorsed Ms. Garfield as their representative to the Selectboard.
Sincerely
T.NAMAYA