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(Editor’s Note: Sally Van Vleck, owner of the Neahtawanta Inn since 1978, took to her kayak to ponder the future of the Old Mission Peninsula, and who best should lead us into that future. Read on for her thoughts. -jb)
As the primary approaches, I have been pondering who to vote for, and also the wider question: what is best for the Peninsula? Who is best equipped to sit at the table, to discuss, to listen and make the best decisions for the good of all the people; for the good of the land, in the long run.
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There are many issues facing us right now; not only the winery lawsuit, but what is best for the farmers, the cherry and apple industries, for the residents and for future generations. Who should we entrust to make the best decisions?
As I struggled to write this letter, I decided to go out in my kayak and spend some time in Bowers Harbor, floating around, looking at the land, trying to find clarity.
What came to me is this: our country, our states, our counties, and yes, our townships are fraught with oppositional politics: I’m right and you are wrong. Isn’t there another way? What is needed now, in my opinion, is to elect people who are willing to listen, to bend, even to change their opinions. We need people who are not stuck in the right or wrong syndrome. We all have perspectives that matter.
The winery lawsuit divided us once it went to federal court. The legal battle won’t be over with the decision; it will be appealed. We are stuck in the legal quagmire.
In the meantime, who is best suited to lead the important work of Peninsula Township? There are many issues facing us as growth continues, and we need to balance special interests with the common good for all.
After reading the responses sent out by Old Mission Gazette for Township Supervisor, I believe the person is Maura Sanders. She has demonstrated a willingness to listen, an enthusiasm for the job, a positive, can-do attitude. I like that she values transparency and welcomes citizen input. She has had experience at the township: chairwoman of the Park Commission and elected to be a Peninsula Township Trustee. She is strongly in favor of supporting the agricultural endeavors on the Peninsula. She opposes unrestrained commercial growth.
I hope that the new board can come together in a spirit of cooperation and common purpose, to follow the well thought-out Master Plan, listen to the people, protect the beauty, serenity, agriculture and other businesses and well-being of the residents of the Peninsula. Maura Sanders has the qualifications, experience and leadership to be our Supervisor.
-Sally Van Vleck
Owner of the Neahtawanta Inn since 1978
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Thank you, Sally for this well crafted letter endorsing Maura Sanders. I concur.
Sally,
I agree. Maura is everything a public servant should be. In particular, she strives to understand and communicate the sometimes conflicting issues involved in both creating and meeting the guidelines provided by our masterplan. If elected supervisor, I think she would help create more cooperation for the benefit of the entire community.
Thank you for your thoughts.
Thank you Sally. I really appreciate your support! I also support taking time to think while floating around Bowers Harbor.