To the Editor:

I’m writing to my neighbors, the residents of Knox. For those of you who I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting, my name is Matt Schanz, your duly elected highway superintendent and I am once again humbly asking for your vote on Nov. 4.

It has been an honor to serve the Knox community for over 21 years, first as a highway employee in 2004, and more recently as your superintendent. I look forward to continuing working for you and your needs.

Working in a small town is more than maintaining roads, plowing snow, and filling potholes. It’s about ensuring safety, managing the budget entrusted to me, and extending beyond our highway department for the good of our town.

Fiscal Responsibility and Professionalism

First and foremost, I am proud to report a consistent record of fiscal discipline. Government funds are not make-believe to be spent carelessly. It’s your money and I recognize it must be spent wisely.

Despite a significant inflationary increase in fixed costs over recent years, I have never exceeded my budget in part by appropriately staffing our highway department, prioritizing essential maintenance, and negotiating materials and equipment costs at every turn.

In doing so, I have successfully operated the highway department under budget every single year of my tenure. Once re-elected, I commit to you this dedication to efficient spending shall continue so long as I am your superintendent to lessen any tax burden on our community.

Furthermore, I believe in continuously improving our operations. Managing funds appropriately has afforded Knox the opportunity to procure one of the most advanced equipment fleets in Albany County. I have been able to enact specialized training for our employees including courses and professional development learning at Ithaca College to ensure the town of Knox benefits from the very latest techniques in highway maintenance, material management, and regulatory compliance.

Working With Our Community

A great highway department doesn’t just work on the roads; it works with the people who use them every day and their elected officials. As an example, throughout my tenure, my team and I have worked outside of our purview and helped construct the park’s walking path, playground, and ball fields in addition to keeping our roads safe, clean, and drivable. It truly takes a village.

My team and I have focused on responsive service and open communication. Whether it was coordinating paving schedules with neighborhood leaders or ensuring our team was immediately deployed during severe winter weather, my door has always been open.

We have worked collaboratively with you — the residents — to address concerns quickly and effectively, ensuring that our infrastructure plans reflect the needs of all areas of the town of Knox.

From keeping our school bus routes clear to ensuring our back roads are safe for travel year-round, my focus remains firmly on providing reliable, high-quality service while protecting our budget.

I’m Asking for Your Vote

Leadership that is dedicated, trained, and fiscally responsible is vital for a town like Knox. Fortunately, I have been able to and will continue to provide such attributes to you and I ask for your support on Election Day.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to continuing to serve you.

Matt Schanz

Superintendent of Highways

Knox