Dear Editor,
A village trustee is a job most of us would not want. It requires a lot of time to attend meetings, review documents, ask questions and dig into the meat of an issue. Our trustees are often put on the spot for statements and decisions they have made and often times, for what a resident thought they did or didn’t do. In their capacity in serving the community what a trustee does has a real impact in our lives from reviewing and approving budgets and financial decisions, to overseeing the management of Village departments. Most of us don’t have the time or the inclination in stepping forward to make this type of civic commitment. Instead we wade through the various election mailings, social media postings, meet and greets and sometimes personal recommendations to help us determine who can best represent us as a Village Trustee – hoping that we choose someone who is a hard worker, like minded, someone willing to get the facts, and have high ethical standards to make the right choices for the village and residents,
There are several residents running for election as a Village Trustee. They are our neighbors, for some of us they are also co-workers, friends or family. It is often hard to sift out those relationships when voting, and I think ultimately we all want trustees who will do a good job- regardless of who that candidate is to us personally. But we often decide how we will vote based upon how well we know this person. There is a particular candidate that may not be well known to all, and I would not want that to disadvantage her in your eyes. While we can vote regardless of the ward in which we live, I want to encourage you to consider the candidacy of Theresa Gosart as Village Trustee representing Ward 2.
I met Theresa through her involvement with “I Want My OPD”, as she was one of a few like-minded village residents who began that grassroots campaign in support of the Owego Police Department during a time when some village trustees were pursuing other policing options. I have been at several Village Board meetings during which she asked thoughtful questions that had not been answered through her research on a particular subject. She was at all times respectful, inquisitive, and dogged in her pursuit for answers.
I support Theresa because she is someone who is willing and able to put forth the time and effort needed to effectively serve the needs of village residents, just as she has thus far with “I Want My OPD”. A primary responsibility for a trustee is to support the safety and health of our residents, which she is already doing through her efforts related to OPD and the OFD Fire District proposal. She investigates before she forms an opinion and is able to have a conversation with someone who opposes her opinion. She uses this opportunity to learn all sides of a situation – a key attribute needed in our world of politics these days.
I support Theresa because she is able to bring her experience as a stay at home mother of three. Her husband fully supports her community involvement, as do her children as she teaches her children the importance of being active in their community. It is important that our trustees represent all of our residents, and having Theresa at the table during discussions about health and safety would provide a different lens to view options.
I would suggest that you reach out to Theresa if you have questions about her candidacy, and what she sees as her goals the village. I believe you will find her to be someone you can count on.
Sincerely,
Chris Knickerbocker
Owego, N.Y.
