Tompkins Weekly

Letter: Support Leslie Schill for District 2 county legislator



As a former alderperson in the 5th ward, I have worked closely with Leslie Schill on the multi-year waterfront planning effort, and I am excited to endorse her candidacy for the District 2 County Legislator seat. I come from a 20-year background in public policy at all levels of government, and I admire Leslie’s collaborative work ethic, her commitment to community, her nuanced understanding of local and regional politics, and her steadfast loyalty.

As a friend and neighbor, I also know Leslie more personally and have logged many a mile running with her on the weekends. Leslie is smart, tough, warm, resilient, and reflective. We’ve raised young children together, while juggling full careers, and navigated difficult, family illnesses. I’ve watched Leslie’s character shine through during these years. Leslie is a doer who combines an open mind with a clearly focused plan of action to improve the lives of others around her. Leslie’s demonstrated commitments to public health, education, affordable housing, racial equality, and environmental health and safety are key issues in Tompkins County that will continue to need strong leadership and creative- even disruptive- solutions. Leslie can bring a strong and thoughtful voice to these issues for effective change.

Leslie’s generosity and commitment to her community is evident in her ongoing efforts to help her neighbors during, and well before, the pandemic, her willingness to have difficult conversations to move issues forward, her drive to seek consensus among diverse stakeholders, and in the many creative solutions she has worked tirelessly on with community members and officials on planning issues for our community.

In these complicated times, District 2 needs an effective advocate in this seat. I hope you will join me in supporting Leslie.

 

Josephine Martell

Director of Research Development at CALS Office of Research Development

Research Fellow with Cornell Atkinson Center

Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Natural Resources and Environment

 

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