Westerlo Republican candidates are running to serve all residents

To the Editor:

The 2019 election season is rapidly coming to a close and the Westerlo Republican Committee and candidates — Dotty Verch for town supervisor, Wendy Shelburne for town clerk, and Amie Burnside and Matt Kryzak for town council — have been extremely busy since March.

In addition to the traditional meet-and-greet event, door-to-door resident visits and lawn signs throughout town, the candidates chose to offer all residents of Westerlo events and activities. The candidates hosted a community barbecue and free live band, which resulted in donations to the Sheriff’s Hilltown Christmas Program, Hilltown Community Resource Center, and the Veterans Miracle Center.

They also hosted a budget-discussion event to hear input and concerns from the residents, two guest speaker opportunities for the community, and participated in Westerlo Rural Cemetery’s Trunk or Treat event.

This year’s candidates are committed to serving all residents — no matter their party affiliation. They developed a platform of ideas to pursue now and in the coming years. Unlike their opponents who never disclosed a platform, Dotty, Wendy, Amie, and Matt shared their individual ideas with everyone they could. They listened to everyone and now there are even more new ideas they would like to pursue.

The campaign platform focuses on fiscal responsibility, clarity in all town government endeavors, responsible economic growth, continued and future work with a five-year comprehensive plan, and ethics in government by forming and utilizing an ethics committee.

In addition, they would like to continue to offer programs and events for the community, and work to develop more opportunities and programs for seniors and our town’s youth.

I am proud to say our candidates ran a clean and upstanding campaign. They never sunk to low levels and kept their focus on what was important — what was in the best interests of the residents of Westerlo. They have full trust and faith in the process.

Dotty, as a business owner, chair of the planning board and Broad Band Research Committee, is poised to run an efficient and fiscally savvy town government. For example, she would like to see procedures implemented for purchasing, and procurement of health insurance and establish relationships with businesses for the benefit of discounts for the town.

As an office manager, Wendy has extensive office, computer, and record-keeping skills. She excels at being organized and efficient and can prioritize and multi-task easily. She is also capable of updating a website, thereby potentially saving the town money.

In addition, as a single mom, Wendy knows all too well the struggle of trying to juggle work, after-work commitments, and children’s activities and would like to offer Saturday hours at Town Hall.

Matt is a project manager and estimator for his family business and as such he is proficient at keeping deadlines, reviewing details, and research. His talent lies in finding the most efficient way to get a job completed safely, within or below budget, and providing exactly what was requested. You can expect nothing less as a town board member.

As a current board member, Amie has proven herself — more than once. She has made difficult decisions, but ones that had to be made for the benefit of all the residents of Westerlo.

She supported the moratorium on solar projects in town until the town can improve its existing local law and she readily accepted the responsibility and honor of chairing the Westerlo Hometown Heroes Banner Program Committee. Her participation in the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School Budget Advisory committee have positioned her perfectly to properly evaluate and help develop the town’s budget.

Amie’s skills as an insurance underwriter have proven beneficial to Westerlo as she has consistently looked at every issue from every angle in order to form a more informed position on matters before the town board.

Each of the candidates have the experience, skills, and talents that would benefit Westerlo. They have promised to listen to the residents; thoughtfully consider what they hear; treat everyone with respect; serve all residents equally, no matter their political party; and serve with integrity.

I ask that the residents of Westerlo consider each one independently of each other and they what they can offer Westerlo. I am confident you will not be disappointed in their service to Westerlo’s residents.

Lisa DeGroff

Chairwoman

Town of Westerlo

Republican Committee

More Letters to the Editor

The Altamont Enterprise is focused on hyper-local, high-quality journalism. We produce free election guides, curate readers' opinion pieces, and engage with important local issues. Subscriptions open full access to our work and make it possible.