My friend, Mayor Jim Auxer, has asked me to endorse him for mayor. As a business owner in town, it is always prudent to not offend customers who support us, so I try not to take a stand on issues publicly, but I feel this election cycle is extremely important.

In light of the recent removal from office of two county commissioners, our county government is threatened and unstable. This is not the time to have a fractured county commission with the mounting growth pressures in Jefferson County.

Tonight I will attend a county planning meeting, where a developer is requesting a waiver to build the highest volume of housing possible on 88 acres of ground — this in a county that once had zoning that worked! Now there are no impact fees, so we the residents will have to foot the bill for roads, schools, etc. There is no way we can pay for, let alone absorb, that kind of growth.

We are also facing growth threats from massive solar arrays; a power company that is again talking high voltage power lines crisscrossing the county, and all sitting on a karst geology that needs to be protected for all of our water. Who is watching out for this county?

Jim Auxer is the person I want to take care of Shepherdstown over the next two years, in light of the county government in crisis. He knows and, I think has, the respect of the principle players locally and at the state level. If the Jefferson County Commission continues to function poorly, it will be the mayors of this county who will hold the towns together.

While I am in agreement with some of the arguments about the Mayor, remember, I have had to work with this town government for 33 years, so I know I am making the right call to support Mayor Auxer for this next term. And my hope would be that all of the good work that is happening to present another candidate will translate into good work in the next two years for the Town Council and mayor’s office.

It is time for new ideas on how to conquer our challenges. Absolutely. And it is time to join with old and new residents to plan. Let’s actively seek out relationships that can garner the most agreement amongst the most amount of people. I am excited at the energy that is happening. Let’s maneuver that to our advantage. And let’s keep Jim Auxer in office for one more term.

Meredith Wait, of Shepherdstown