For Ferguson Township supervisors, I’ll be voting for Spock-Carlson, Tony Tom Ricciardi, and Steve Miller on November 7th. We need a board that recognizes the connection between our place and the bigger world.
Sara Spock-Carlson is a smart and committed citizen. She is a scientist by training who works on making autistic children’s live better. She has also served as a volunteer on the Friends and Farmers cooperative for the local food movement*. Unlike many new supervisors, she comes to the table with a good understanding of land use and development. Her intelligence and commitment will do us well.
Tony Tom Ricciardi is an excellent communicator whose background in radio will help Ferguson be even more transparent. His discussions with township residents have turned up how hard a time people can have engaging with us. Thankfully, he has the chops to improve what we do. He’s also interested in our park system, which will make him a very welcome addition to a board with a lot of interest in making even better use of our parks.
Steve Miller is a thoughtful public servant. For over ten years, he has served in local government through the Planning Commission, the Board of Supervisors, and on the numerous committees in our Council of Governments. Together, we’ve worked to make our township a better home for the rising green building and renewable energy economy.
I won’t be voting for Janet Whitaker. Janet is as kind and fair-minded a person as I know, and I like working with her. Though our perspectives don’t line up sometimes, we aren’t like our (mis)representatives in Washington and Harrisburg, We don’t let disagreements of policy or philosophy stop us from communicating, from working through things together, and holding our community close to heart. Quite the opposite, we talk collegially and work together. But at the end of the day, there are actions on clean and renewable energy and better care of our climate, land, water, and community health that require long-term planning and the recognition that the local is global and global is local. At the League of Women Voters event a couple of weeks ago, Janet said not to vote for her if you’re looking for someone to take these issues on.
I look forward to working with our board, no matter who they are, to make Ferguson Township an even better place to live.
* My partner Meg also serves on the Friends and Farmers board.
Peter Walks for Democracy 