Letter: "Bedford Dems have what it takes"

(Below is a copy of a letter to the editor from Jeremy Mand. He titled it "Bedford Dems have what it takes")

For government to be successful, whether locally or on state and federal level, you need leaders who are smart, innovative, passionate, responsive and fair to their constituents. 

Lucky for Bedford, this year's slate of Democratic candidates which include Supervisor Candidate Chris Burdick, Council candidates Julie Vulpescu and Meredith Black, Clerk Candidate Simone Shapiro, and Town Justice Candidate Judy Aydelott are as talented a group of aspiring public servants that I have seen in some time. What is really interesting and exciting about this group of candidate's is that they each bring unique talent to the table that complements and supports their shared goal of making Bedford as comfortable and enjoyable a place to live as possible.

Mr. Burdick, during his nearly six years on the Town Board has used his strong business acumen and innovative approach to policy-making to work collaboratively with his colleagues to help steward Bedford's finances into a more cost-effective model, increasing the use of competitive bidding and finding other ways to pare expenses; protecting the environment; and holding down Town taxes (average annual increases dropped from 5.4% on average before he joined the board to 2.4%). Ms. Black, a member of the Bedford Zoning Board of Appeals, and Ms. Vulpescu are young, incredibly passionate, and eager for the chance to contribute to their community; their energy and dynamism are especially valuable as the town considers a new 10-year strategic plan. Ms. Shapiro developed a reputation for cutting through red-tape during her time as a trial lawyer and she has spoken eloquently about how she plans to streamline the town clerk's office to make it more efficient, responsive, and customer friendly. Finally, Justice candidate Judy Aydelott has been a pillar in our community for the past 36 years. Her vast experience in a number of different aspects of the law and her devotion to community should give her perspective in the courtroom that few can match. 

We all know that government cannot solve all problems, but it can positively impact our lives and I believe these individuals are the people that can make a difference.