LETTER: Katz Listens, Has Time To Be Mayor, And Loves Cooperstown

3-12-10

To the Editor:
I am a Republican who supports Jeff Katz for mayor. I am looking for the best person for Cooperstown, and the most important thing to me is what a person does, not party registration. Performance counts, and with Jeff’s five years experience on the board and two years service as deputy mayor, he has the experience to do the job and do it well. I know how much time and effort Carol Waller has put into this job and I wonder who can devote that much time to serve us the way she has. Jeff has that time and will be available day and night – much as Carol has been – and continue that service to us, the residents of the village.
I have witnessed first-hand how much time and work this job takes. Jeff has brought people together who had widely different views and successfully negotiated an acceptable settlement to the issue of access and parking behind the fire hall. While I had only a small part in this issue, I saw Jeff put together the meetings, gather everyone together, visit the site a few times, listen to all sides and finally get all the parties to agree.  He took the time to learn each side’s issues, lead the discussion and help everyone along to reach a final agreement.
Trustees who did not devote the time, effort and study of this issue reversed their votes when pressure from one person came to bear upon them. They did not consult with the parties to the already voted on and passed agreement.  They did not learn about the issue and they did not provide any leadership in the settlement. Jeff had explained the agreement again to them, but these four chose to ignore the wishes of the Fire Department volunteers, the local residents and the business owners involved. In my opinion, they did not do what was in the best interest of the whole village.
Jeff has a love for Cooperstown, brought his family here and has been an active member of our community. He has led the effort to bring concerts to Doubleday, make Doubleday Field generate money to help defray expenses and still allow junior teams, the high school and the new Cooperstown Hawkeyes access to the shrine of baseball. He has led efforts supporting the Concert Series, the kids’ playground, funding for Linden Avenue, library funding, the fire department, Badger Park and all aspects of the Village services to the residents and merchants.
But Jeff excels in three things that are important to me.  He learns a lot about an issue because he listens to all sides, he devotes time and study to the facts, and he is open to differing points of view. Second, Jeff has the time and the availability to do this job, because he is in the village full-time working from his home. And third, he shares my love for this village and I can see it when he puts what is best for the village in front of his own interests.
FRANK LEO
Cooperstown