Letter to the Editor: Thank you from Michele Ohayon

This concession letter is to the all the five resident communities who reside under Rockingham Township.

I want to first congratulate Stefan Golec, Susan Hammond and Ben Masure for your success in fulfilling the selectboard seats going forward for this upcoming year. I enjoyed spending 10+ hours standing with you in a beautiful weather day, except for the lack of instant food sources with time to eat and when the weather turned to rain toward the evening.

I want to thank all who took time to come out and vote and take part in your civic duty and I especially want to thank the 481 community residents who felt the belief to vote me into a selectboard seat.

I, along with others, were quite shocked how close the results were. This just proves we are evolving into broadening our insights and horizons.

I want to thank all who took time to either work or partake in volunteering to oversee the 12+ hour day to ensure the smooth process of our part in Super Tuesday.

I’m hopeful going forward there are first, more Residents who register to vote! There was just about a handful who did on this day. I am hopeful going forward there are more residents, especially young adults, folks who rent and more of the elderly folks who reside in community arrangements such as Riverview, Canal House as example, who feel they can partake in the process to attend the Town Hall meeting; usually the day prior. Their voice is just as important because they pay their percentage as well. There was approximately 120 residents which equates to less than 5% of the overall Registered Voters (approximately 3,280). The less than 5% are the ones who are doing YOUR bidding when it comes to the general budget and any additional expenses and Articles of Petition asking for money. Keep in mind the more you attend, the less squawking there will be when it comes to property taxes.

We must understand anything our five communities need in the town comes from your money which directly gets funneled via property taxes.

In conclusion, I am hopeful going forward, if I or anyone who steps up asks you for a signature of support for an Article of Petition, understands how important this process is.

Thank you for your support.

Michele Ohayon

Rockingham, VT