Letter: Vote for proven leader

EDITOR,
As a lifelong Democrat, an environmentalist, a single mother with children in local schools and definitely part of the 99 percent, I am wholeheartedly supporting Bruce McPherson for 5th District supervisor. We need a supervisor who will listen to all constituents and represent us with a strong voice. McPherson has demonstrated his ability to work collaboratively with others to achieve positive results — the kind of leadership we need. He has a proven track record supporting the environment, women, public safety, education, libraries, economic sustainability and the things that are most important to us in the 5th District, and has done so in a fiscally responsible manner.
I know both Bruce McPherson and Eric Hammer, and there is no comparison in terms of skills, abilities or leadership style. Fred Keeley and all the former supervisor candidates in the last election have endorsed McPherson, and there is a clear reason for that.
Given the current state of the economy and the limited funds available to provide services, we need strong, proven leadership to represent us — someone who can hit the ground running.  I have worked in the office of the 5th District supervisor, and I know the abilities needed to be effective in that position; McPherson is extremely well qualified. It takes more than good intentions to achieve results, and we cannot afford to hope the skills could be learned on the job. Please make sure you get out to the polls and vote on Nov. 6 — for Bruce McPherson.
Jill Hitchman, Scotts Valley