When I was asked to serve as interim alderman for 2001, I accepted the position because I cared about Spencer; it is for this same reason that I now feel obliged to put pen to paper. Allow me to recount several observations from my year of service with the town.

The Town Board is a dynamic entity comprised of individuals, all whom bring their own distinct strengths and weaknesses to the group. The mayor is a person who must be able to temper these individuals into a cohesive vision, and a collective direction.

The office of mayor is no sinecure; the health, progress, and success of Spencer are directly relative to the passion, the resources, the education, the experience, the vision, and the time that the mayor can contribute to its betterment.

The mayor represents Spencer and its citizens in the full breadth of his qualities, professionalism, and demeanor.

The town of Spencer continues to make progress through the hard work of those dedicated to it; we must not allow our current momentum to be slowed, or worse, reversed. What we have achieved can be quickly and fatally undone under the wrong leadership.

Buddy Gettys is the only candidate with the qualities and capabilities to lead Spencer. I strongly urge you to vote for him on March 5th.

— Jon E. Palmer

Spencer