To the Editor:

After reading a recent article in your paper, I decided to publicly support Vas Lefkaditis’s candidacy for Knox town supervisor. This was a difficult decision for me as I hold his opponent in high esteem.

It does not surprise me that during Vas’s tenure as supervisor he has been able to increase Knox’s bank account from approximately $1 million to approximately $1.7 million while making improvements to facilities and holding taxes to a 0-percent increase.

While he and I sat on the Berne-Knox-Westerlo Board of Education, he took a similar approach with the same results. At first, we clashed as I was put off by his brash, “take no prisoners approach.”

Then I got to know and respect the man. Vas Lefkaditis questions and evaluates every expense, large or small, and holds everyone accountable for doing his or her job.

His vast business expertise served the BKW District well. Vas saved us large amounts of money while fighting to hold the line on taxes

We were in the midst of a capital project then as we are now. He ensured that all bids conformed to our budget, held contractors accountable for every expenditure and change order, while still looking out for the needs of children and taxpayers first.

He never in any way looked for financial benefit for himself or special treatment for his children. Since his departure from the board of education, I have heard countless residents express regret that Vas Lefkaditis is no longer on the BKW Board to moderate spending and stand strong for children and taxpayers alike.

Vas is an honest, straightforward man who owns up to his mistakes and learns from them. He is kind and generous.

This dedicated public servant worked behind the scenes to quietly assist a needy resident. You can search far and wide and be hard-pressed to find a kinder more capable man than Supervisor Vas Lefkaditis.

Helen Marie Lounsbury

Berne