I am about to complete my seven years on the selectboard and want to say — Thank you, Middlebury!
This has been my favorite year serving on the board and getting to show my qualities as vice chair certainly made it extra rewarding. I hope the opportunity to share leadership roles continues for the future board because the entire town benefits from such support among members.
To everyone who voted for me, worked by my side on subcommittees or shared your thoughts on a topic of interest — I appreciate you very much. To my selectboard colleagues, town staff and especially Kathleen Ramsay: I am going to miss the hustle, the humor and our moments of accomplishment. I’m taking the next year off but will be wishing you my best.
Every election, people ask for my thoughts on candidates. Here are the ones I know:
Library Trustee
John Freidin has shown extraordinary dedication to the upcoming library project. His institutional knowledge of where the project began to where it is now is invaluable to the ongoing process. I hope he gets to continue in this very important role.
Amy Mincher is a great multi-skilled candidate. She has a background with museums in Vermont and New York. She has worked with major grantors that serve libraries and has relationships with key organizations. She is a lifelong active user of the library and would offer a young professional’s voice to the Trustees.
Alice Eckles offers an economically diverse voice which is helpful from a very active Ilsley patron. She is an accomplished local author and has long shown up to participate as an interested resident with projects that shapes the heart of our downtown.
Selectboard
It has been my honor to serve with Farhad Khan this past year on the selectboard and I hope he is elected to continue for another three years. His first year learning curve is complete (yay!). I am confident that his open, thoughtful consideration and quiet humor are a great fit going forward.
I have served with Gary Baker on and off the selectboard. He currently serves on the DRB and Infrastructure Committee and would have to give up the DRB if elected to the selectboard. I prefer to see him remain at his current posts and not move to the selectboard. I appreciate more than most that he is already fulfilling a key service to the town.
I recently met Lindsey Fuentes-George and she is exactly the young professional with a family that our community consistently seeks to engage. We all lead busy lives making it difficult to participate in local government so it is a gift when someone such as Lindsey steps forward. We should accept her gift and welcome voice at the table.
As always, it all comes down to the voters. Thank you again and see you around town Middlebury!
Susan Shashok
Middlebury Selectboard Vice Chair
East Middlebury