To the editor:

I am writing to endorse Tim Follos for supervisor of the town of Wilmington. Small Adirondack towns like Wilmington are facing rapidly changing economic, environmental and quality-of-life challenges. Whoever is elected as our supervisor will play a key leadership role in guiding the town’s response. Therefore, the experience of our candidates for town supervisor is of the highest importance.

As a member of the Wilmington Town Board, Mr. Follos has worked hard to find solutions to issues that matter a great deal to Wilmington’s residents, including the proliferation of short-term rentals, the need for updating Wilmington’s zoning code, rapidly escalating property taxes, poorly-controlled development and deforestation and the loss of Wilmington’s summer youth program. He does his homework and proposes evidence-based solutions. Mr. Follos has persevered through many difficult town board meetings in seeking solutions to these problems despite frequently being treated disrespectfully by other people at the table. There can be no doubt as to Mr. Follos’s commitment to making Wilmington a great place to live.

Sam Haselton is also running for supervisor of the Town of Wilmington on a recently declared write-in campaign. In contrast to Mr. Follos, Mr. Haselton has no experience in local government activities, either as an elected official, a volunteer or even as a regular attendee at meetings of the town or planning boards. Being a busy businessman is no excuse for non-participation; everyone on the town board and many of the residents who attend the meetings commit significant time to their jobs. If Mr. Haselton had attended and participated in town meetings, the community would know much more about his opinions on important issues and the direction he would take Wilmington as town supervisor. Mr. Haselton would also have learned useful details regarding the inner workings of Wilmington’s town government, and he would be better prepared to serve as an administrator. Serving on the town board, as Mr. Follos has done, is especially good preparation for serving as supervisor.

Mr. Haselton mentioned several issues in his interview with the Adirondack Daily Enterprise that he would prioritize — issues that are very similar to those that Mr. Follos has been tirelessly working on for several years. However, Mr. Haselton did not suggest any new ideas for addressing these problems. He said he would like to hear from the people, but if he had been engaged in Wilmington’s governance activities, he would already know a great deal about the concerns frequently expressed by Wilmington’s residents.

Mr. Follos is very well qualified to serve as supervisor with experience in Wilmington’s town governance, well-developed ideas for addressing some of Wilmington’s thorniest issues and a solid track record of dedicated effort on behalf of Wilmington. In contrast, Mr. Haselton has tossed his hat in the ring at the last minute and he has not demonstrated the level of commitment or experience for taking on the role of Town Supervisor that I am looking for. Mr. Follos is the clear choice to be Wilmington’s next supervisor.

Bill Wonderlin

Wilmington