Endorsements

“I’ve followed Stephanie’s Town Meeting blog and the recaps of Select Board meetings that she has posted on her website, inAmherst.com, for well over a year. After serving for many years myself, I’ve been incredibly impressed by the detail and unfailing accuracy of her reporting, and by her real grasp of the numerous complex issues that we face as a town. More than a sharp mind, she has the level-headedness that keeps her focused and the clear sense of priorities that will help the Select Board address them effectively. These are particularly critical qualities in our current situation. Moreover, I’ve seen her consult, and listen to, others and to make and adjust her decisions thoughtfully and with appropriate care. I trust her candor and her sense of fairness and balanced judgment. I’m so happy that she has decided to run.”

- Eva Schiffer

“I can think of no one more prepared than Stephanie O’Keeffe to undertake the collaborative work that will be needed for the Select Board to move this town forward. Stephanie is a very clear and careful thinker, she has done her homework, and she is ready to go.”

- Richard Morse

“I am delighted to support Stephanie O’Keeffe’s bid for the Select Board. I have been impressed with Stephanie’s dedication to the town as a Town Meeting member; not only does Stephanie work hard to understand the issues she also shares her thought processes with her constituency on her blog. Stephanie is a great communicator, she works hard, she understands the issues, and she cares deeply about Amherst.”

- Dolly Jolly

“Stephanie is an insightful observer of Amherst town government. As a member of the Select Board, Stephanie will continue to bring transparency to our town government and move the town forward. We support her priorities and her rational, open approach to town government. In our respective roles as members of the Town Commercial Relations Committee, Finance Committee and Town Meeting, we look forward to working closely with her when elected.”

- Jeff and Marilyn Blaustein

“Stephanie’s re-caps and analyses of Select Board meetings have been insightful and illuminating. Her clarity and focus will be invaluable in these difficult times. I urge the concerned citizens of Amherst to join me in putting Stephanie O’Keeffe on ‘the other side of the table.’”

- John Coull (her Dad)

“I am very excited to support Stephanie O’Keeffe for the Amherst Select Board. Having worked with Stephanie in several capacities I have been able to see her demonstrate her concern for all people in Amherst including those overlooked by many. More important is Stephanie’s ability to think clearly, articulate these thoughts and implement them.”

- Nancy Gregg

“Stephanie has impressed me, not only as someone deeply concerned about the well being of our town, but as someone willing to stick her neck out in defense of what is best for it. If efficiency and priority setting in town governance are issues that matter to you; if you recognize the value of a collaborative approach to problem solving; if you are looking for straightforward, sensible leadership in the face of the challenges we have before us as a community; then please join me in supporting Stephanie O’Keeffe for Select Board.”

- Marcy Sala

“I have served with Stephanie on Town Meeting and on the Town Meeting Coordinating Committee for two years. In that time I have found her to be well-informed and forward-thinking in her views. She does an excellent job of seeking to understand individual concerns and balancing them against the best interests of the group.”

- Phil Jackson

“Stephanie O’Keeffe believes that smart economic growth for our town is a key to preserving the things we love most about Amherst - our green space, our strong schools, and our diversity. She believes that the Select Board should set a vision and strategy for our town, rather than micro-managing the daily decisions the town’s professional staff has responsibility for. We need vision and strategy right now, we need Stephanie O’Keeffe.”

- Baer Tierkel

“I’m endorsing Stephanie O’Keeffe for Select Board because I trust her to make good decisions about town management for all residents of Amherst. Stephanie is thoughtful, smart, and informed. Most importantly, Stephanie has a willingness to work with people with different needs and priorities to reach solutions that benefit us all.”

- Catherine Sanderson

“Stephanie is intelligent and tuned in. She is informed about the issues. She is active in town politics and on local boards. She understands the need for increased revenues if the town is going to thrive. She’s a no-nonsense kind of leader, and she has my complete confidence and support in her bid for Select Board!”

- Carol Sharick

“I couldn’t be more excited that Stephanie is willing to serve on the Select Board. Through her blog and InAmherst.com recaps, she effectively busted ‘the aristocracy of time’ by giving everyone a window into what is happening in Amherst government. She is committed to transparency and willing to work with everyone. She has an incredible ability to see all sides of an issue, yet come to a logical, common sense conclusion. Amherst NEEDS Stephanie!”

- Clare Bertrand

“I can think of no one I would rather have on the Select Board than Stephanie O’Keeffe. A long term citizen of Amherst, she cares deeply about our town. She serves on town meeting, listening carefully to all sides of an issue and then sacrifices time and sleep to summarize it for us in her blog. She is intelligent. She has opinions which she arrives at after considering all sides of a given issue. She is not committed to any faction or cause save that of good government for all the citizens of Amherst. I am grateful that she has agreed to serve.”

- Zina Tillona

“Stephanie ROCKS!”

- Cinda Jones

“Thomas Jefferson wrote that ‘the whole art of government consists in the art of being honest.’ Stephanie is a master of that art, and is dedicated to making Amherst's government more honest and transparent. I'm supporting Stephanie for the Select Board because I belive her practical, rational, collaborative approach to solving problems will make the Select Board more efficient, effective, and relevant.”

- Gavin Andresen

“I am married to Stephanie’s father and have known Stephanie for 18 years. In all of that time, I have found her to be an extremely insightful, thoughtful and mature woman. She always thinks before she acts, and has an excellent grasp of the ‘whole picture’ of issues, problems, and potential solutions. She grasps the complexities of the town political process, structure and methods of operation. Stephanie seems to also have a grasp of issues which Amherst faces in the here and now, a clear vision for improving the quality of life in Amherst, as well as ideas about simplifying the political process. She is extremely mindful in the way in which she thinks and works. She has worked tirelessly as a volunteer for our community, and has given her time, insight, and commitment to making Amherst a better place to live. I give her my wholehearted endorsement for Select Board.”

- Jean Schwartz

“I have been deeply impressed with Stephanie's clear and level-headed reporting on the machinations of our town government. Her willingness to devote so much of her time and energy toward the cause of a wider public understanding of the issues we face is astounding and says more than any words I might conjure up about her motivation and integrity. She is clearly passionate about the town and her desire to improve the way we get things done. But what I like most about Stephanie is that her passion is balanced by reason. In the often highly-charged atmosphere of small-town politics, an ability to remain calm and make decisions that are consistent with a well-grounded vision is, in my book, what sets her apart from some of her opponents.”

- Stephen Braun

“I’m supporting Stephanie O’Keeffe for the Select Board because she has demonstrated the qualities I believe Amherst government needs: openness, knowledge, and an inherent belief - and trust - in transparency. I so appreciate her understanding of the role the Select Board should play, and I believe her volunteerism in our community’s human services gives her a perspective that would benefit town government decision-making. Also, I value enormously her commitment to government transparency, as evidenced by her detailed, clearly written and insightful blog. Supporting Stephanie is my way of saying that I want town government to respond to the challenging issues we face with focus, real information, commonsense and a willingness to collaborate. Supporting Stephanie is the easiest political decision I’ve made in a long time.”

- Mindy Domb

“I'm very excited to see Stephanie running for Select Board this year. I first got to know her through her Town Meeting blog, which proved how thoughtful and forthright she was. Now that I know her in person I have learned how energetic, efficient, and compassionate she is as well. I think she has a great vision for the future of Amherst, and I know she has what it takes to get that vision realized.”

- Chris Hoffmann

“Stephanie has impressed me with her desire to reach out to the entire community; to listen to the many voices in our community; and to collaborate with her fellow Select Board members, members from other boards, and town staff to move us forward together in a positive fashion. With this attitude, her energy and attention to detail, I believe she will be an effective member of the Board and make the Board a more cohesive, effective instrument of Town government.”

- Jonathan Souweine

“I’ve been a fan of Stephanie’s Town Meeting blog since its inception. That blog, and Stephanie’s subsequent inAmherst.com website, have made decision-making in Amherst approachable and understandable. I have appreciated Stephanie’s insights, intelligence, and fairness. Stephanie’s clear, reasoned explanations of her votes at Town Meeting have demonstrated the thought and care that she puts into this task. Stephanie’s commitment to excellence, her diligence, her ability to make difficult decisions, and her integrity make her an ideal candidate for Select Board.”

- Reed Mangels Alper

“For the past four years I have worked with Stephanie O’Keeffe on the Board of Amherst Friends for the Homeless, Inc., the organization that runs Shelter Sunday each fall. In our meetings she has shown a remarkable ability to ask the right questions and to propose solutions that demonstrate a very creative, yet grounded, approach to problem solving. Having someone who is capable of such a high level of creative thinking on the Select Board in these fiscally challenging times would be of tremendous benefit to the town of Amherst.”

- Aaron Bousel

“Stephanie O’Keeffe is the clear best choice for Select Board. Her dedication to the process of democracy is inspiring. And while I agree with many of her positions on issues (such as needing smart, careful economic growth to help preserve what’s best and vital in our town), I know she will continue to have the courage to thoughtfully and carefully explain her decisions. Her knowledge of the town and its politics is encyclopedic, and what she doesn’t know, she knows how to get an answer. Although I will miss her presence in the ‘audience,’ I look forward to her leadership from the Select Board table.”

- Todd Felton

“Stephanie mentions collaboration and communication as two themes of her campaign. These are not empty promises from Stephanie; these are what she already does. Stephanie favored the council/mayor form of government in both elections, but when Town Meeting won, she did not withdraw and lament. Instead she volunteered for Town Meeting and even ran succesfully for the executive TM Coordinating Committee, where she still serves. And then she took on the invaluable role of volunteer reporter covering both the TM and the Select Board via the Internet for the rest of us. I urge you to accept her offer to serve on the Select Board itself.”

- David Yaukey

“While all five candidates in the race speak in some way about fiscal accountability, in our opinion Diana Stein and Stephanie O'Keeffe have the background, skills, grasp of issues and the temperaments to best serve the town in these challenging times.”

- Amherst Bulletin, 3/28/08  “Amherst Election 2008”

Want to add your endorsement? Send it to info@stephanieokeeffe.org.