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Dear Editor:
As residents of Westfield, we have a critically important election coming up that may very well determine the future character and living standard of our city.
We believe that Mike Johns is by far the best candidate for Westfield’s City Council from District 5 in the Nov. 5 election. He’s someone who is so passionate about Westfield that he has attended virtually every city council meeting for the past few years.
At this time of rapid population growth, our city is making pivotal decisions and setting policies that will have generational consequences for the character, financial stability and quality of life of Westfield. As a successful businessman, Mike Johns takes a conservative approach to spending in order to keep taxes and debt low. A top priority for Mike is to vigorously pursue getting high tech and manufacturing businesses to come to Westfield in order to create new wealth, increase jobs, and expand our tax base. He’s also committed to educational excellence and safety in our schools.
Mike is determined to preserve established residential neighborhoods and prevent commercial creep into them. He has already been instrumental in stopping the high-density housing and commercial strip proposed by Pulte at 146th Street and Oak Ridge Road, thereby protecting the home values and character of this neighborhood.
While Mike’s opponent in the upcoming race for city council endorsed the high-density housing against the overwhelming majority of residents who opposed it, Mike worked to have this project significantly revamped to one with larger lot sizes and higher home values, and with a neighborhood park instead of a CVS pharmacy.
He’s already done a great service to our district, and he will no doubt become a leader on the council, avoiding wasteful spending and steering us in the right direction.
Gen LaGreca, M.A.
Mary Pat Forkin, M.D.
Westfield