To the Editor:

If you are looking to elect quality candidates to the New Scotland Town Board, consider Bridgit Burke and William Hennessy. Both are experienced, honest, and competent and have proven leadership ability.

Hennessy is a licensed professional engineer and New Scotland small-business owner specializing in building, site, and environmental design. He served on the zoning board of appeals for nine years and as chair for three of those years.

As a town board member for the past eight years, Hennessy has contributed his engineering expertise and personal business experience to numerous town projects, including extensions to water districts, highway garage improvements, and the Hilton Barn relocation, as well as grant applications for the Hilton Barn, Clarksville sidewalks, and Smart Energy.

Hennessy has led the way to developing zoning and planning improvements, including the addition of a town planner and the creation of the Hamlet Zoning Law and the Comprehensive Plan Update.

Burke, an attorney, has had a career of leadership and public service. At The Legal Project Inc., she managed the work of staff attorneys and volunteers dedicated to providing civil legal services for the most vulnerable people in our community.

She was on the faculty of Albany Law School for 20 years where she served as director of the Civil Rights and Disabilities Law Clinic and co-director of the Law Clinic and Justice program. She and her students received a national award for excellence for their legal representation of individuals with disabilities.

Burke has also been recognized as Leader of the Year by the New York State Developmental Disabilities Community.

In addition to her leadership qualities, Burke will bring her legal and business competence to our town government. She has served as a mentor to small businesses for over 30 years.

Burke’s experience on our town’s zoning board of appeals shows her dedication to public service and knowledge regarding our town’s zoning and planning. Her experience as an attorney will be valuable in addressing legal matters that come before the board.

In comparison, there is little evidence that candidates [Glenn] Schultz and [Timothy] Stanton have ever dedicated themselves to the well being of our town. Although they claim to have opinions about how the town should spend taxpayers’ money, neither of them has attended any of the town board’s current budget meetings that are determining how that money will be spent in 2020.

While they have opinions about the town board’s land-use planning, they failed to share those with the Comprehensive Plan Update and Hamlet Law committees responsible for studying the issues and making recommendations to the town board.

Vote for the candidates that do have the leadership ability, competence, dedication, and experience needed to meet the challenges facing our town board today and in the future. Vote for Bridgit Burke and William Hennessy for New Scotland Town Board.

Ray Rettig

New Scotland

Editor’s note: Ray Rettig’s wife, Christine Galvin, is a member of the New Scotland Planning Board.