Yepsen deserves re-election

I have known Joanne Yepsen since we served together on the board of the Saratoga Springs Open Space Project (now Saratoga P.L.A.N.) nearly 10 years ago. Joanne is exceptionally intelligent, hard-working and dedicated to our community. She is able to work with people of diverse opinions and political affiliations. This is why she has been so effective in her first term as our representative on the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors.

As a Democrat on the Republican controlled county board, Joanne has been able to work cooperatively with her colleagues on issues of importance to us all - for example, contributing to the process and advocating for adoption of the county's Green Infrastructure (Open Space) Plan. At other times, she has been a needed voice of opposition - successfully fighting, for example, the original financing scheme for the county water plan that would have unfairly used county surplus funds (that were paid in part by city taxpayers) for a water system that the city does not need or want.

Joanne has provided support and assistance to many initiatives in our community. She has used her professional background in fundraising and marketing to secure financing for important projects and started a program to teach nonprofit organizations grant writing skills. Joanne has been accessible to all residents of Saratoga Springs and has worked tirelessly on our behalf. She has accomplished much in the less than two years since we first elected her.

I know that she will continue to be a strong voice for our city, and therefore I urge residents of Saratoga Springs to re-elect Joanne Yepsen as our county supervisor on Nov. 6.

Michael Welti
Saratoga Springs