||| FROM B. SADIE BAILEY |||


I appreciated seeing and hearing Toni speak at the LOWV candidates’ night, before the Primary elections. She took the time (and risk) to explain some things and educate the voters, including exactly what the proposed levy entailed, where she stood on it, and why; and how operations spending took precedence over capital needs when the department could ill afford to neglect safety equipment and vehicles. She’d done her homework. That was impressive.
I’ve met with Toni twice since the Primary to learn more about her platform. She has in-depth understanding, is fair, professional, and mature in her thoughtful and intelligent answers to my questions and concerns. She has compassion for the situational complexities involving many people. She is an open and creative thinker and a good listener who will weigh all viewpoints and work toward win-win solutions. AND she adds these to her much-needed practical budget management skills. 

For me, safety is knowing where a person stands in their commitments; that is part of transparency, and it’s how trust is built.  I already had confidence in the other skills Toni would bring to the table. Difficult as it was to decide between Toni and Kate, the above-mentioned are what won me completely over. I sincerely hope that whichever of these two women comes in second, that they will stay involved with OIFR and this commission. I wish I could vote for both of them.


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