Plain Township Board

Editor, Times-Union:
Elections that we’ve heard about in every news cycle for what seems like ages are right around the corner. Before we head to the polls in a few short days, I want to challenge everyone to be introspective and consider what we, as individuals, truly want. I hope we will all steadfastly reflect on what we believe will be the best for our families and our neighbors.
Consider, for example, transparency. It’s nice to know the who, what, where, when, why and how of circumstances and decisions that impact us. It helps us understand more about, and feel more connected to, the communities we’ve chosen to call home. 
Where do our money and resources go? Who makes those decisions? Why did leaders choose that path over another? When can we learn more information or share our opinions? How will this decision impact our neighborhood? 
These questions seem relatively basic until we realize there hasn’t been a fair, direct answer to them in quite some time. That obscurity is what can cause this whole process to feel imbalanced, messy, and difficult to understand. 
Sometimes the “right” answer to those questions isn’t enough, though. As we look inward and contemplate the values and morals that make us who we are, it is critical to prioritize the values, morals, and experience of those running for office. 
The Plain Township Board is part of this year’s elections. This board is tasked with approving budgets and contracts, setting tax rates and salaries, reviewing finances, protecting taxpayers, funding assistance programs, and managing public safety departments like Fire and EMS. 
Having a board made up of engineers, technicians, diligent problem-solvers, former financial firm leaders, and specialists in regulatory affairs and quality assurance, is a great first step. Those careers, by nature, adhere to systems of balance and transparency. Combine those skills with deep, multi-generational community roots, selfless care, genuine compassion, and true interest in what residents think and feel, and Plain Township can only do one thing: succeed.
Introspection is hard work. It can be extremely difficult and time consuming to mull over why we believe the way we believe. Why we think the way we think. But don’t good things come from hard work? Haven’t we heard about bootstraps and elbow grease our whole lives? 
Seriously, though, if you removed party affiliation every time you voted and simply looked at the candidates running for these offices … truly looked at them and what they stand for and who they actually are … wouldn’t that allow for choices that are more aligned with your own morals and values? 
Rebecca (Becca) Noftz, Robert Osbun, and Brian Smith are running for the Plain Township Board. They have extremely solid backgrounds, a beautiful, deep desire to do good, and a plan to let their constituents in - to give them a place to be heard. 
I am proud to be voting for Noftz, Osbun, and Smith for a second time. On November 3rd, as we choose our local and state leaders, I hope you’ll join me in prioritizing transparency, organization, financial stability, whole-hearted compassion, and servant-hearted leadership.
Erin Leinbach
Leesburg, via e-mail