To the editor:

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, the town of North Elba has one of the most important elections in years. Our longtime supervisor is stepping down after 12 years, creating a vacancy for the top elected job in town. North Elba and Lake Placid is at a crossroads for its future. Enough has been written and discussed around short-term rentals and the impact these properties have had on our quality of life in our neighborhoods. Now we have a chance to do something about it.

Tourism is the lifeblood of our community, but our neighborhoods are where we raise our children, enjoy our birthday parties, play in the street and have our families over for the holidays. Why are we fighting for peace and quiet in our neighborhoods? That’s why, when regulations are put in place to control unruly activities, I want somebody as supervisor that I can trust to deal with the bad actors and enforce the regulations and violations.

In the race for town supervisor, the choice is very clear: Jay Rand is that person to get the job done. Everyone knows Jay and his family. He grew up on Grandview Avenue in the Hillcrest neighborhood here. He raised his three daughters here. Jay Rand has been involved in community and business groups for over 40 years. His involvement in the Olympic movement and the Olympic Regional Development Authority is widely known here in town and internationally.

He has managed hundreds of employees for decades, negotiated employee contracts, formulated budgets and managed major capital projects at the facilities. While on the North Elba board he has been involved with the closure of the landfill, the replacement of life-saving fire equipment, the black fly program, the efforts to reduce road salt around Mirror Lake and the airport improvement projects. He has represented the town on international trips to secure worldwide sporting events, served on the 1980 Olympic Organizing Committee. He is respected by our state and federal officials and routinely represents our town at statewide local government gatherings.

Jay has served us in a supporting role for many years, but with his style has led quietly and confidently in his roles. Now it’s his time to lead our town. As someone who is retired, Jay will dedicate himself full-time because we deserve nothing less.

The job of supervisor will become more complicated as the years go on. With millions of dollars of state and federal investments and international sporting events upcoming, we need someone who can hit the ground running.

The future is bright for North Elba, but we need someone with Jay Rand’s proven experience, community trust and dedication to lead us. I’ll be voting for Jay Rand on Nov. 5. I hope you do, too.

Jay Strack

Lake Placid