To the Editor:

As our village board election is set for March 18, I am giving careful thought to whom I want to be making decisions that will enhance the quality of life for our village workers and residents alike.

To bear the authority of government, whether national, state or local, in a democratic republic such as ours, is a formidable task. Locally, we expect our village officials to be broad-minded, that they listen to residents’ concerns, and that they work for the common good (a term we haven’t heard much of lately). It is expected that using the power that they have, our officials will put forth an agenda that has been informed by the issues raised by attendees at the bi-weekly board meetings, by letters to the editor in the Enterprise and by conversations with the public. We expect our officials to be transparent in talking with the public, to be unbiased and creative in tackling the issues before them, and to use their communication skills, imagination and integrity to resolve and to solve problems in our village.

Keeping in mind the non-partisan democratic ideals that I just mentioned, I encourage you to vote for the candidates who best exemplify these ideals. To my mind, they are Kelly Brunette, Jeremy Evans and David Trudeau.

I came to know Trustee Kelly when I began to attend village board meetings on a regular basis in 2023. I admire the effort she has put in to incorporate the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) into our village objectives, the work she does with the many village departments, and the perspective she brings to board operations. She delves into issues beyond the surface and suggests they may be resolved with more time for thoughtful discussion. I have often heard public comments made about “doing projects right,” and that’s what Kelly is about.

I came to know Jeremy through his participation in village board meetings. He gives praise where it is due as well as reasonable alternatives to various issues, for example, the location of emergency services. He presently serves on the Harrietstown Town Council, a position he will step down from if elected to the village board. He has served as CEO of the Franklin Co. Economic Development Corporation since 2017. Previously, he was the Community Development Director for the village. His involvement in community affairs has been long and valuable.

I know David less well than I do Kelly and Jeremy, but I have known him longer.

He did work on my house in the early ’90’s, when I had just moved here and was doing a lot of remodeling. His work has held up over the years and I am sure he will give the same thoughtful consideration to the job if he becomes a village trustee. In mid-January, the Enterprise interviewed him about his construction management skills, working for ORDA and the New York State Energy Development Authority. He’s had more than 17 years of volunteer experience in Saranac Lake at the development board, the library and the Zoning Board of Appeals, among other places. As a retiree, he feels he has the time now to devote to ‘”everything a board is responsible for.”‘ In short, all three candidates are forthright, have the work skills, as well as life experience necessary for the jobs they seek and share a practical vision for Saranac Lake as a model for other village boards in small villages in New York and around the country.

Elizabeth Kochar

Saranac Lake