Jim Haff for Selectboard

On the eve of the election I am reflecting on why I am voting for Jim Haff. Compared to the other candidates Jim has much greater knowledge and experience of the inner workings of the town budget, operations, and Killington’s role and impact on the region.

He has been on the Select Board, is the town’s representative on the school board, was the town’s representative to the Rutland Regional Planning Commission and interim Health officer.  He has worked tirelessly on town issues even as a private citizen.

He has been a constant presence at various town board and commission meetings, giving important and well thought out input on the town’s management, operations, finances and future growth that has been repeatedly acknowledged by past and present town officials.

Given his experience, knowledge and relationships he can hit the ground running without any learning curve or acclimation time and thus can more efficiently get the town’s business done.

In the short term the town is faced with some critical challenges. Long term financial decisions need to be made regarding the Golf Course, swimming pool, the new Public Safety Building, and the continuous upkeep and reconstruction of our roads and buildings.

The town’s operations need to be closely examined and critical management issues need to be resolved.

Jim has stated repeatedly that the town’s main responsibility is to maintain what we already have, i.e. the town’s infrastructure; roads, buildings, and public facilities such as the golf course, library, pool, etc.

There are difficult decisions that are going to have to be made in the near future. Jim Haff has shown that he can play hard ball if need be He has made and stood by hard, and even unpopular, decisions which in the end turned out to be right. This is the person we need to lead the town forward. He may not be pretty, but he is hardworking, smart as a whip and has the large cojones needed to move the town forward.