To the editor:
Ben Salmon with south Orange Village President candidate Sheena Collum
South Orange needs a strong Village President, someone with vision and the skills to execute that vision. We need a Village President with experience, knowledge of the issues and a strong grasp of the landscape who can hit the ground running and make a significant impact over the next four years. That person is, without a doubt, Sheena Collum. I value her pragmatic, fact-based, passionate approach to local governance.
Two years ago, Sheena Collum ran for Trustee with a platform that read like a long to-do list. In less than two years, she has delivered on every single one of those items, not a small feat considering its breadth. I admire Sheena’s dedication to process and including all stakeholders in issues that impact them. I am in awe that her first phone call is always the person with the greatest concern and how she values all perspectives and folds them into the solution. She is one of the best problem solvers and solution-oriented people I have ever met.
Sheena Collum is a huge advocate of our downtown. I can’t even begin to count the things she’s done—big and small—to help maintain and improve our Village Center. She created a desperately needed task force to update our antiquated commercial codes from the 1980s and make South Orange more business friendly. Trustee Collum is one of the biggest shop local cheerleaders I know: she advocates for the South Orange Village Center Alliance, she’s spearheaded grant initiatives and is willing to roll up her sleeves and help individual small businesses with issues, no matter the size.
I’ve lived in South Orange for nine years, I’ve owned a downtown business for seven years, I’ve volunteered hundreds of hours with South Orange committees and projects to improve our Village and my oldest of three kids just started in our school district. I live, breathe and love South Orange. While I have immeasurable respect for anyone who throws their hat in the ring to run for local office, there’s no better Village President for South Orange than Sheena Collum. She is exactly what our Village needs. Please vote on Tuesday, May 12th; the last election was decided by seven votes.
Sincerely,
Ben Salmon
South Orange resident, business owner and volunteer
