The advantage of living in a small town is that if you are an active member in the community you get to know and develop friendships with the folks within it.

However, the disadvantage of living in a small town is that you get to know and become friends with many fine people in your community.

Such is the case when it comes to local elections, such as the school board. I personally know both candidates, and know that each brings their own expertise to the table, which makes this a tough decision to make and publicly state.

Anna Taft is a well-respected business owner, with a family, who is the third-generation owner of the family business. She brings to the board the “ins and outs” of building and maintaining the respect of the community through many years of honesty and delivering a quality product at a fair price. She knows first-hand the hardship minor changes in the economy as a whole can mean major consequences in a small town. Furthermore, she knows that a good, solid, well versed, education is the foundation of life. Education is where the seeds of good judgment, problem solving, bridging gaps, understanding differences, forming opinions, forming relationships, and commitments are sown, nurtured, and developed. We need people like Anna Taft on our school board.

However, if Mark Mansell were elected, he would bring an entirely different perspective to the school board with his education and his experience in education throughout the years. I have personally worked with Mark on a number of projects and have found him a person who, prior to making a decision, will look at all facets of the equation, seek opinions that have merit, and listen to suggestions that have answers to solving the problem rather than simply complaining about it. If you come to the table with Mark, you had better have your “ducks in a row.” He is very analytical, resourceful, meticulous, fair minded, and budget conscious. He is a person who believes that there is nothing that cannot be accomplished if folks work together towards a common, obtainable goal. Furthermore, Mark is an excellent motivator by making each member of a team feel they have something to contribute. We need someone like Mark Mansell on our school board.

In closing, it is my opinion that each, Anna and Mark, has something valuable to contribute to our school board and perhaps we should look at expanding our school board when we have such qualified candidates who are willing to serve.

Please Vote. Many have sacrificed so that you may do so.

Keep’n the faith!

JOSEPH S. NATOLI

PHC/AC USN Retired

Ocean Park