To the editor:

I am interested in voicing my support for Johnny Williams as he seeks re-election for Harrietstown Town Council. From the very first day I moved to Saranac Lake, Johnny and the Saranac Lake community were incredibly welcoming to me. There is something to be said about how Johnny has and continues to make everyone feel like a local, an instant member of the community.

Throughout the years I have seen demonstrated time and again how important the folks of Saranac Lake are to Johnny. He listens to each person and then goes beyond merely hearing them – he assists them. In this way, Johnny Williams has garnered an impressive understanding of the unique issues that residents of Harrietstown face. His ability to unite people regardless of their backgrounds or political affiliations is essential in the current climate.

Perhaps the most striking examples of this are the successful businesses that Johnny operates in town and the Turkey Trot event that he and his team coordinates annually. Johnny employs a large, diverse staff of motivated individuals that contribute greatly to the fabric of Harrietstown. His kindness and charisma contribute positively to the tourism market as well as to the retention of locals in the community.

Johnny has lived it. He, himself is a Saranac Lake native who is currently raising a family locally. This is the source of his interest in the continued progress of programs within Harrietstown. Beyond his nuclear family, Johnny supports and advocates for local youth via the North Country Work Development Force Board.

Each year, he and other motivated individuals host a fundraising event. In the decade that the Turkey Trot has been held, more than half a million dollars has been raised for the community. It really is a spectacle, the impressive number of individuals that fill the streets for this cause year after year.

There are two things that I am positive of come November. The first is that I will be running in the Turkey Trot alongside so many other members of this community. The other is that I will be supporting Johnny Williams for a second time, for a better Harrietstown.

Paige Lamb

Saranac Lake