Letter to the Editor: Re-Elect Rea to Westport Board of Finance

Dear Editor,

The RTM is a non-partisan body, and we are glad that it is: the representative’s job is simply to do the right thing for the town, putting aside other agendas. Including politics. We worked with Michael Rea on the RTM, and we have seen that ethic demonstrated in his work on the Board of Finance.

Mike’s goal is to fill the needs of the town. Not surprising, since he grew up here, with his wife raised their children here, and has spent 3 decades volunteering here including as a current member of the Board of Finance, past Chair of the RTM Finance Committee, Chair of the Parks and Rec Commission and head of the Bedford Building Committee (project completed on time and under budget). He accomplished these things while working to manage successfully budgets, resources and personnel of a global corporation in his professional life.

His insight into what can be done is well-informed and practical. I admire his openness to new thinking along with his experience in real-life problem solving. He is certainly financially astute and has contributed to the righting of long-term town fiscal issues. But he is also dedicated to environmental protection, to school and community safety, to the health and welfare of all our residents. He supported Wakeman Town Farm. He supported the Library when weekend-closings were threatened. He places a priority on maintaining all town resources better than we have been doing lately (given recent recession-strict budgets). Mike brings a sharp mind and kind disposition to the work that needs to be done.

We strongly recommend that Westport re-elects Mike Rea to the Board of Finance in the upcoming election.

Liz Milwe and Wendy Batteau