To the editor:

A superhero is a person who does heroic deeds with a supernatural ability normal people could not. Leaping tall buildings in a single bound type of ability, I guess. While I’m pretty sure I don’t know someone with supernatural physical abilities, I do know I have witnessed supernatural abilities in a local hero of mine. Like other superheroes, she does her work quietly and without reservation, conducting her community building activities from the shadows, eschewing the limelight.

Who is this masked crusader? This anonymous community builder? Well, it may not surprise you that I’m referring to my good friend Melinda Little. She is one of the most incredible individuals I have had the honor to work with. I have worked alongside her on the village board, collaborated with her as the executive director of the chamber, and saw first hand her passion for mentoring entrepreneurs with my own business. She cares deeply for Saranac Lake, listens and builds consensus, always takes a diversity of viewpoints into account, and works towards common sense, practical solutions. I know that she is the best candidate for mayor.

Melinda Little’s supernatural ability to actively listen, fairly balance competing constituent interests, and take decisive action for the better of the entire community is exactly the type of heroic nature we need in local government nowadays. Time and again she has taken on the difficult tasks. She was a leader on the Police Review Committee created by Executive Order 203, being able to balance the diversity of complex constituent expectations related to strengthening our police department. She was a leader of the Housing Work Group, being able to once again navigate a complex issue with a variety of competing stakeholder priorities, resulting in a vision and plan to improve housing in Saranac Lake. She steadfastly grew support for the Village Mercantile, becoming the founding president of an entirely community owned store.

I know that Melinda wants to improve access to local government, continue local action on climate change, continue to invest in our infrastructure, properly implement the vision of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, continue to implement the Park Vision Plan, implement the actions of the village’s new housing strategic plan, and foster a community where all feel welcome, among many other things.

In this day and age when we admire and adore the superheroes of the silver screen, with all of their supernatural abilities, I say let’s look a little closer to home. Let’s recognize that we have an opportunity to elect our very own local hero as mayor. Please join me in voting for a strong, experienced, independent woman named Melinda Little for mayor of Saranac Lake. My only regret in writing this letter is that this year’s Winter Carnival theme isn’t superheroes. The metaphor would have been that much better.

Patrick Murphy

Saranac Lake