I am writing to endorse Councilwoman Emily Root for Ward 1. I have had the pleasure of working with her for 18+ months. She is smart, thoughtful, compassionate, dedicated and engaged, and I could not be more excited to continue working with her representing Ward 1.

Unlike her challenger in the upcoming election, Emily understands that being a member of Westfield’s Town Council is not about saying no — it’s about working hard and finding ways to say ‘yes!’

The job requires a careful balance of listening, informing, educating, deliberating; it necessitates teamwork with the council members, town employees, local business owners and residents to find the common ground on which we can all work for a stronger economic and community-centric future for our town — in the short and long term. The job does not always win you popularity contests.

Emily brings significant experience and noticeable drive to her job on the Town Council. She first moved to Westfield more than two decades ago, engaging with residents over the years as a speech pathologist, professor, small business owner, neighbor, and stepmother of two. Her impressive professional and personal history with the town has now been augmented by on-the-job experience working as a council member — chairing our Public Safety committee where she has worked closely with our police and fire chiefs to ensure they have the resources they need to keep us safe. She has also served as a liaison to the Downtown Westfield Corporation and the Westfield Mental Health Council and has been an active member of the Finance Policy Committee, helping shape a budget this year that held the line on taxes while making critical investments in our community.

In all of these roles she has been impactful and intentional, investing the time necessary to make informed decisions, and driving forward the important priorities of our town—to improve pedestrian safety, reinforce the foundations and vibrancy of our downtown, find answers and solutions, and invest in the people and equipment we need to deliver the servicesWestfielders expect.

Vote on November 7 for the candidate forWard 1 who is truly about smart development, caring and careful engagement with residents, and dedicating her time and energy to consistently deliver results to each and every one of us. Re-elect Councilwoman Emily Root!

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