We are writing to endorse Randy Winch and Hanna Cromie for Wilmington’s town board.

Wilmington is struggling to move forward on much-needed initiatives to address issues such as the lack of affordable housing, degradation of its environment by poorly-controlled development and rising taxes. Wilmington is also failing to take advantage of opportunities to obtain funds from the county and state for community development.

We have read with envy the reports from the town of Jay supervisor (published in the Jay Community News) that describe the grants Jay has received to promote a variety of initiatives, some of which will save Jay taxpayers’ money. Jay is moving forward. Wilmington is not.

The responsibility in Wilmington falls squarely on the shoulders of Wilmington’s town supervisor and his voting block — board members Forbes and Preston — who appear to lack the vision and motivation to help the whole town move forward. Wilmington’s town board needs a reboot, and electing Randy Winch and Hanna Cromie to the Board (and Tim Follos as town supervisor) would be a positive step toward a fresh start.

Randy has gained a solid understanding of the issues Wilmington is facing by regularly attending town board and planning board meetings over the past few years. He frequently asks questions and offers comments that are well-reasoned, insightful and highly relevant. He has served on Wilmington’s Board of Assessment Review, and he is currently co-chair of Wilmington’s Planning Board. Randy is a calm and sensible gentleman who values consensus building.

Hanna would bring to the town board strong advocacy for protecting Wilmington’s natural character while also addressing the needs of Wilmington’s residents, including prioritizing local housing over short-term rentals and keeping taxes fair. As a young working person she has experienced firsthand the challenge of finding affordable housing in Wilmington. Hanna’s expertise in wildlife biology and environmental science would be invaluable in helping Wilmington shift from poorly-controlled development towards more conservation-minded development. Hanna has been attending town board meetings regularly for months to prepare for joining the board. Electing Hanna to the board would provide representation for new, young working residents and improve the diversity of the board. Wilmington, with its aging population, needs to recruit more young people to the town, and Hanna’s visible presence on the town board would be a sign that Wilmington wants to give a voice to young working people.

Both Randy and Hanna are independently minded, and they will prioritize the needs of the broader community rather than only trying to satisfy the needs of a few special interests. They would be a very welcome and positive addition to Wilmington’s town board — the fresh start we need. Please vote for Randy and Hanna.

Linda Shuster

Bill Wonderlin

Wilmington