Letter: Macksey: Working Hard From Day One

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To the Editor:

Beyond a doubt, Jennifer Macksey is the most qualified leader who possesses the values, experience, skills, and total dedication to the residents of North Adams to continue to serve as mayor. She listens, executes, and delivers results.

As a lifelong resident of North Adams and as a 28-year teacher at Drury High School, I know firsthand that Jennifer's word is her promise. She follows through with initiatives and works tirelessly in her pursuit of improving the city's infrastructure and educational programming. Jennifer has improved services to ensure greater accountability and transparency. She has protected taxpayers, balanced budgets, and prioritized public safety to keep our neighborhoods safe.

Ms. Macksey has a love of our city and is genuinely concerned about the welfare of every resident. She works tirelessly to make our community a better place.

A mayor requires strong leadership, effective communication, and sound managerial skills to run a city efficiently. Key skills include the ability to research and analyze complex city issues, represent the city to external parties, lead and motivate staff, and make sound decisions within a complex political and legal framework. Jennifer Macksey has these skills and is the right person to continue to lead the City of North Adams.

Jennifer Macksey is an experienced problem solver and strong leader with great integrity. She has been ready from day one, has worked hard, and has delivered on her promises. Please join me in voting for Jennifer Macksey on Nov. 4 to continue serving as our mayor. North Adams deserves a strong, experienced leader.

Patrick Boulger
North Adams, Mass. 

 

 

 


Tags: election 2025,   municipal election,   


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Veteran Spotlight: Coast Guard Capt. Thurman 'Tom' Maine

By Wayne SoaresSpecial to iBerkshires
MASHPEE, Mass. — If I were to describe the best attributes of this week's veteran, they would be an infectious personality, role model, leader, wonderful family man and a person that leads by example in the very best way. 
 
The aforementioned, are the primary reasons why Thurman "Tom" Maine enjoyed a successful and distinguished military career in the Coast Guard from 1983 to 2014. 
 
Born in North Stonington, Conn., Maine entered the Coast Guard at the age of 21 and was sent to boot camp in Cape May, N.J. His first assignment was at Coast Guard Station in Provincetown, R.I. From 1994 to 1997, he was a helicopter pilot for Coast Guard Air Station at Otis Air National Guard Base and was elevated to operations officer, chief pilot at the base from 2004 to 2007. 
 
During his 31-year career, Maine flew some of the Coast Guard's most elite helicopters; the Sikorsky H-3 (the Coast Guard's last amphibious aircraft), the Sikorsky H-60 (the most widely flown military helicopter in the world) and the H-65 (a smaller, faster helicopter that deploys on ships).
 
Maine continued to rapidly climb the ranks and in 2009 was promoted as the Coast Guard's liason to the Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon, a position he held until 2011. Following that assignment, he was promoted to captain and rose to be the commanding officer at the Coast Guard's prestigious Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Ala. 
 
During his tenure as commanding officer, he suffered a devastating blow when four Guardsman were killed during a night training exercise. He conveyed that his greatest achievement in his entire military career, was the leadership he provided
to his 600-member unit and the families of the fallen Guardsmen, by always being accessible, communicating constantly and holding vitally important family nights.
 
He said this tragedy, "gave him the ultimate opportunity to live out his faith." He also lobbied intensely for the student pilot who was killed to be awarded his designation posthumously, which he did.
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