We have been working to bring a municipal network to Northampton. Last year, Penny Geis showed up at one of our coalition meetings and asked us to put her to work. We had no idea just how invaluable she would be.
Penny, now an announced candidate for Ward 7 city councilor, helped us in two major ways. First, she brought us a surprising amount of information on the workings of city government, whose machinery we were just beginning to learn.
Penny attends most City Council meetings, and assists on some of the many committees that make Northampton function. She already knew most of the city councilors and the mayor. She told us strategies that would work for our effort and against it, saving us a lot of time and wasted effort.
Her advice paid off. In January, Mayor David Narkewicz proposed a two-year study on the viability of a municipal network. The first phase of the study is likely to be funded by the council in July.
Second, she dug in on the hard work of making change. Twice she joined us for hours downtown in the wind and rain as we gathered signatures for a municipal network downtown. This resulted in over 500 signatures presented to the council. She already knew the process for getting sidewalk permits and shepherded our application through the Department of Public Works.
We learned only later that Penny also brings a wealth of experience. She was an administrator for Hampshire County and the first woman elected to the Saline County, Kansas Board of Commissioners. She has spent much of her life working the grassroots to advance local issues.
She brings passion, compassion and an honest desire to work for Ward 7 and the city. We fully support her candidacy for Ward 7 city councilor and invite you to join us in voting for her on election day. Penny efficiently and methodically gets things done!
Mark Hamill
Lee Feldscher
Florence