To the Editor:

I have had the opportunity to work with Knox town Supervisor Vas Lefkaditis on both the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School Board and the Knox Town Board. Mr. Lefkaditis seems to create an environment of chaos, conflict, and mob mentality wherever he goes.

Current Knox Town Board members typically get monthly agendas a day before the meeting (something he would have howled about as a school board member)  — the effect is an attempt to keep the rest of the board off balance and unprepared for whatever he is unilaterally trying to push through.

When Mr. Lefkaditis was running for school board, he told me that he wrote a letter in support of his candidacy and had a supporter sign their name to it. After the last town supervisor election, Mr. Vincent Virano, a former Lefkaditis supporter, shared an email trail showing both versions of a letter to the editor that Virano originally wrote and one Lefkaditis heavily edited into an entirely different scathing attack on his opposition.

This unscrupulous behavior is indicative of Mr. Lefkaditis’s “by any means necessary” attitude towards achieving his agenda.

I believe that opportunity knocks for Knox. We have an opportunity to elect Amy Pokorny as town supervisor. Amy puts more time and volunteer hours into service for the town than anyone I know.

She has no personal agenda other than to help make Knox a better place to live and to provide opportunities for its residents. Amy will lead by building consensus rather than dividing and conquering and dragging our town through the mud.

Amy has already shown that she will act with grace and poise when she doesn’t get her way. Amy treats everyone with the same level of respect and dignity regardless of their point of view.

Amy is organized and believes in looking ahead and planning so we are not constantly reacting to the latest avoidable crisis. Amy understands that we can promote economic development in town while preserving our rural community and avoiding sprawl.

Amy has been a champion for preserving Knox’s natural resources and rich history. Amy does what she says she is going to do. Amy listens carefully and she thinks before she speaks.

Amy will help return the dignity and respect to the office of Knox town supervisor. I sincerely hope that town residents will join me in casting their ballots for Amy Pokorny as Knox town supervisor.

Earl Barcomb

Town of Knox Councilman

Editor’s note: Knox council members Earl Barcomb and Amy Pokorny are both Democrats. Supervisor Vasilios Lefkaditis is running for re-election on the Republican line. Barcomb is not up for re-election.