PUBLISHED LETTERS TO THE EDITOR(S) SUPPORTING TOM AND HIS CANDIDACY

When Tom Trevett announced his candidacy for Penfield Town Board I immediately wrote to him requesting a meeting to discuss town issues. A few weeks later, at his invitation, we met for coffee, and have met for conversations three times since then. I have taken the measure of Tom as a concerned, professional Penfield resident and taxpayer with vision and with a sharp focus on the importance and benefits of volunteering for public service.

Tom correctly points out that an overwhelming cost of government today (the property taxes on our home have gone up by about 40% since we moved to Penfield in 1996!) is out-of-control government employee salaries and pensions. By example he points out that the members of the Penfield Town Board receive an annual salary of $18,000 and participation in the state pension fund, whereas the Penfield School Board positions are unpaid and have no pension benefits, even though the School Board’s budget is 5 times that of the Town’s. Tom has pledged to take neither salary nor pension were he to be elected this fall, to set an example.

In my mind there is a sharp contrast between the candidates for the position this fall: either Tom Trevett, a neighbor dedicated to giving back, volunteering his time and experience to the community as an unpaid Board Member; or the opposing candidate, who may in fact be a fine fellow, but with meager experience, seeking a salary and pensioned government career, which perpetuates the problem. He has been appointed, while living out-of-state and in a bizarre act of cronyism by the Town Board, to serve on a town committees, and appointed, not elected, to the Town Board – the Town Board’s choice, not the choice of the Penfield community.

My choice is Tom Trevett. I know I will not have to support Tom with my property taxes, but will gladly support him with my vote this fall.

Arthur J. North, Penfield{Appeared in the Messenger Post, Octobert, 2010}

***************************************************** "Penfield needs a man like Trevett"

Every once in a long while, I meet a real mensch. Many of you of German descent or who know anything about German culture know that the word "mensch" is a high compliment. It's a word that embodies all of the best attributes of a virtuous man.

A mensch has integrity. He is hard-working, disclipined, caring and fair. He manages to take a view of life that is above the fray, so to speak, above the petty and myopic visions of lesser men, yet he exhibits great compasion - in other words, a leader.

Tom Trevett is such a man. I liked him from the first time I met him and I found that everyone does. Yes, he's a Democrat and I'm a Republican, but when I heard that he's running for Penfield Town Council, I immediately concluded that Penfield can't afford to let him go by. Added to the above attributes, Tom Trevett is a successful lawyer, mensch.

Penfield needs a good mensch. We need Tom Trevett for Town Council.

JOSEPH A. CALLAN, Penfield {Appeared in the Messenger Post, August, 2010}