I have known Joe Laurin since 2013, when we coached our 10-year-old sons’ soccer team together. Joe knew little about the sport, but stepped up when no one else volunteered to be assistant coach as that’s the kind of guy he is. He is also the guy that is setting up for Kicks for Cancer at 6 a.m. and is there through cleanup 16 hours later — every year. Joe is the neighbor that spends days setting up a “haunted maze” every Halloween that is the delight of the neighborhood — even though his children outgrew it years ago. In other words, Joe is a wonderfully committed resident, neighbor, and friend of the town.

Just as importantly, Joe is a smart, analytical businessperson who achieved meaningful success in his career by being an excellent operator, teammate, and leader. He is a proven consensus builder that is willing to politely listen to all sides of an issue yet is comfortable challenging the status quo. Joe is a principled individual that is committed to the betterment of the town and its residents and has the skills necessary to help guide us through an important and challenging period.

Re-electing current members of the board whose “experience” has been to sow rancor and whose incompetence has driven the town to the edge of financial peril should be unthinkable. We would be lucky to have someone with Joe’s skills and temperament on the Select Board, and therefore enthusiastically endorse his candidacy.

Patrick West