To The Editor:

When I became Massena Town Supervisor almost eight years ago, I entered an office that had seen four different supervisors over the course of 13 years. Although the Town Councilmen and staff were getting the job done every day, there was no continuity of leadership, little direction and no vision.

Our community needed a breath of fresh air, and I tried to help us inflate our lungs and take in more oxygen.

My first goal was to find a way revitalize at least part of our economy. Two public meetings I hosted to discuss and improve our fishery led to a partnership with the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce and the creation of FISHCAP. Don Meissner was hired and the BASSMASTER Elite Series came a few years later. We have all seen the impact that has had on our area and what it will mean into the future.

Our Town Government infrastructure had been neglected for years. With the employees and Town Council, we improved communication equipment, computer/information technology and security, while developing new websites and a respect for the taxpaying public.

I am proud to say that transparency and openness has been the hallmark of my time in office. Public comment periods have been added at the beginning and end of every monthly Town Council meeting. Meetings are efficient, well-managed and productive.

The 20 years of government experience I brought into the office allowed for an easy and quick transition with the help of outgoing Supervisor Gary Edwards.

And the Town of Massena has benefitted from my experience.

That’s the biggest difference between me and my challenger, Steve O’Shaughnessy. Mr. O’Shaughnessy is a decent person who was elected to his first office just over 22 months ago – that’s fewer than 470 days. When I asked him why he wanted to be Town Supervisor, my challenger seemed unable to tell me, and he has offered no vision or details of his plans thus far.

So voters have a very serious decision to make: will they continue to support demonstrated success and experience, or will they take a chance on a seemingly unsure candidate with very little background in government?

I encourage them to vote for me…Because Results Matter!

Joseph D. Gray