I don't often devote turn this space into a political soapbox, but these times demand that people of conscience speak up. There may never have been a time in the history of our country that have we faced as many challenges as we do today. I think most of us would agree that a change, not just in the people, but in the entire tenor how politics is conducted, needs to take place.
John Gallus has served the north country for many years, and I'm sure he sincerely believes that he has delivered good things to the area. However, we need to look closely at his record and what he stands for. The fact that we might elect someone who scores a 22 out of 100 on issues of conservation makes me very nervous, when you look at the North Country's number one resource, which is its physical beauty and natural resources. So far, Gallus has not been a friend to the landscape. Between the ATV park, his support of the biomass plant in downtown Berlin, and other programs that threaten the environment, Gallus has not shown a great deal of concern for the natural resources that set the North Country apart from all other places on earth. I don' t necessarily fault him for his positions. Developers are not necessarily known for their long-term thinking. How objective can someone in the business of developing real estate be when it comes to looking at the long term future of the town you're selling real estate in? Yes an ATV park is certainly a short term benefit (at least to the people selling the land) and it may eventually be a tourism destination, but in a time when people are trying to decide whether to put fuel in their car or heat their homes, ATV vacations may look like a luxury. The 40 jobs promised by the Laidlaw Biomass plant sound great, but the jobs it promises to create will be many years away, if there ever is an economical way of getting the energy it promises out of the county to the cities that need the power. In the mean time, the downtown will languish, and growing businesses like mine will put their expansion plans on hold while Laidlaw and NADC and the regulators decide the fate of what could be, without that last remaining tower, one of the most beautiful locations in the north country.
Martha McLeod on the other hand, has taken an active role in developing a new economy in the North Country. I was fortunate to get to know her when I participated in the North Country Economic Development Initiatives last summer, and immediately admired her dedication, her fresh ideas and her open, and honest approach to problems. Her record is proof of her concern for both the short term and long term future of our county. I particularly like her mixed-used approach to economic development, that advocates for economic development based on a mixture of creative economy, technology, small business, energy and other sustainable businesses. So if you want a clean bright future for the North Country, get out there and vote for Martha on Nov. 4th.
Berlin ward information:
http://www.berlinnh.gov/Pages/BerlinNH_Clerk/election/electionwards?textPage=1
and Berlin polling locations/hours:
http://www.berlinnh.gov/Pages/BerlinNH_Clerk/election/Primary
Get out and vote!
Posted by: Edward Jenkins | October 28, 2008 at 01:28 PM