To the editor:

My name is Lindy Ellis, and Rich Shapiro is my husband. We were college sweethearts and have been together 45 years.

I am so pleased Rich is asking for your vote for reelection to the village board. Saranac Lake needs a person like Rich, a person who listens and finds solutions. Nobody knows Rich better than I. And I know that when he is alone and no one is watching, and there is a controversial issue at hand, that he will always do the right thing … no matter what.

Rich listens to all people and their problems and then works hard, for days or weeks, to solve those problems. He talks with village residents, restaurant and bar owners, retail shop owners, the police chief and the Department of Public Works superintendent about the issues they face, and works with them to find solutions. He cares about fairness and delves into the details of what will work.

Rich cares about the people and businesses in Saranac Lake and believes in helping them thrive. If he has something that will help a person or a business, he will share that wholeheartedly. During COVID-19, Rich delivered hand sanitizer and masks to businesses, got signs at the village entrances and on our downtown streets to follow good practices, and analyzed infection data, keeping county leaders informed so corrective action was taken in our seven-county region. Rich has coordinated five milk, dairy, and produce giveaways, three in Saranac Lake and two in Vermontville, to help our farmers and our families.

Rich takes the lead on key issues, working effectively with all the other local government bodies in our area. For the climate march in 2019, he secured resolutions of support from Franklin County, the village of Lake Placid, the town of North Elba, the village of Saranac Lake, the town of Harrietstown, and the village and town of Tupper Lake. These resolutions were all unanimous, bipartisan efforts.

Rich worked alongside Peggy Wiltberger, the Saranac Lake SkatePark Committee, the community and businesses, and the village to build the Saranac Lake SkatePark in 2015 and then improved it with lights and drainage control. This was a great team effort, and it is fun to see the kids enjoying themselves while passersby enjoy the action and the gardens!

Rich has worked hard for you as village trustee over the last four years and is eager to continue working hard for you! He brings many insights to the village board. As a successful business owner for 25 years, he brings that same level-headedness to village issues.

These are some of the many reasons why I married him and the reasons why I will vote for him. Honest, listens and deeply explores solutions, connected to the community … that’s my Rich.

Join me Feb. 15 in voting for my Rich. Rich Shapiro will continue to be a great board member for the village!

Lindy Ellis

Saranac Lake