To the editor:

Voting time is upon us again, and I’m writing to express my support for Steve Ouellette and Brian Valcourt for selectmen.

Steve Ouellette has been a selectman for multiple terms, and volunteered on many other town boards in the past. He is one of those perennial good guys, always striving to help the town move in a positive direction, whether it be economic development, preservation of Westport’s rural character, helping clean up the river, or simply putting in the hours to help guide the governing of a town struggling to provide sufficient and adequate services in the face of extremely challenging economic times.

Small town politics are exhausting, and the fact that Steve has hung in there for so long speaks volumes to his dedication to our town. He is an honorable man who knows how to listen and work collaboratively with colleagues on the Board of Selectmen and other town boards and committees.

I have had the privilege of working with Brian Valcourt on various projects for the town, including developing a buildout GIS map for the town derived more from local knowledge than demographic formulas. Brian and I served together on the town’s Estuary Committee, which managed the development of the Massachusetts Estuary Project (MEP) report for the town. Brian is a life-long resident of Westport. He grew up here, went through school here, and has chosen to raise his family here. His education and vast local knowledge makes him a real asset to the Board of Selectmen and the town.

Steve Ouellette and Brian Valcourt are men who I know will work tirelessly to serve our town. We face some serious challenges in the coming years and we need selectmen who can see the big picture and make decisions that are truly in the best interest of the whole town. In my view, Steve Ouellette and Brian Valcourt fit that bill.

Tim Gillespie

Westport