I write to urge voters in Deerfield to re-elect Carolyn Ness to the Select Board on Monday, May 7.
Ness has been serving the town exceptionally well for 15 years. She is a collaborative leader who has gone above and beyond the role of Select Board member, having served on several additional committees on behalf of the town to protect our interests.
My list of reasons to re-elect her is far too long to publish here, but the most important ones, from my perspective, relate to protecting the environment and the unique, rural quality of our town. These include her leadership in finding a principled way to defeat the proposed Kinder Morgan natural gas pipeline, thereby preserving the beautiful and productive rural landscapes that characterize our community, and paving the way for more rapid adoption of energy efficiency and renewables, and her role as chair of the steering group that represents towns along the Deerfield River that has been meeting with state agencies since 2011, after Tropical Storm Irene, to ensure the resilience of our region in the face of more frequent and severe superstorms.
She also has worked with the Franklin Conservation District to secure conservation money for Deerfield farmers and other landowners for measures that result in better water and soil, help fight climate change and promote resiliency.
Ness’ mission has been to deliver services more effectively and efficiently, while pooling resources and containing costs. She is willing to invest the time needed to understand the issues and their impact on all town residents, and to work with the appropriate parties to solve them.
You can learn more about her accomplishments and her platform on her Facebook page, “Vote Ness for Deerfield.” I hope you’ll join me in re-electing her.
Jennifer J. Marrapese
South Deerfield