“It’s time for accountability, transparency, and real vision”
From Green for Mayor
This Tuesday (or if you vote early), you and the other residents of the Village of Wellsville have an important decision to make… are you going to vote for the incumbent mayor, Randy Shayler or the challenger, Marshall Green (me).
Many of you do not know me personally but only by name… so I wanted to take a moment and introduce myself and present an argument as to why voting Marshall Green for Village Mayor would be your best option.
First, I am an independent thinker… I do not tow a party line, bow down to people of prominence or power, and I believe issues should be handled on a singular basis. I fiscally lean conservative, I personally hold more traditional small-town values and beliefs, and feel our government’s job is to empower and assist, not control. I also support quality and responsible social programs that uplift and empower those in need to become better people, better employees, and more productive members of our community.
I am a small business owner and over the past year, my business partner (and girlfriend) and I have invested in purchasing and renovating multiple commercial/residential properties on Main Street. This has created three apartments with room for 4 more to be developed and the renovation of multiple retail spaces which has brought 7 new businesses to our community.
Over the past 18 years that I have lived in Wellsville, I was the original director of the Creative Arts Center, I also worked for ACCORD as a Domestic Violence Prevention Educator, and ran after-school mentorship programs for at-risk children in multiple school districts for the Family Service Society.
My ex-wife Jennifer and I started the Willing Fall Harvest Festival (that continues today), I have bought and donated thousands of dollars of stuffed animals and books that have been donated to the local ER’s and Police Departments for kids in trauma situations, I raised thousands of dollars to purchase and deliver food for those in need at the beginning of Covid before our local food shelters were able to mobilize their efforts, and I have participated in the building of multiple wheel chair ramps for those in need in our community at no cost to them. Serving my community is very important to me not only as a community member, but also demonstrating to my children what a community service mentality should look like.
During the Mayoral Debate that we had earlier this month, you might have heard our current mayor state that they did enact a rule that prevents the public from openly speaking at board meetings (which is the first time that I am aware of this ever happening in the village). Mayor Shayler clearly stated that was not meant for the “public” but specifically to keep me from speaking on the record.
You should ask yourself, what is Mayor Shayler so worried about? What could I possibly have said on the record that made them change the entire standard procedure that had been in place for decades to now require board approval for what the citizens (you) have to say before you are allowed to say it?
The only reason that comes to my mind is the mayor is worried about being held accountable for misdeeds, corruption and or village business mismanagement… and that being brought to light on record resulting in accountability. The kind of missdeeds which the Mayor still refuses to tell the residents how many tens of thousands of dollars of your tax payer money has been waisted in lawyer fees on the impending eminent domain case (which I uncovered to be at least $30,000 as of 6 months ago).
What happens when you have something to say that they do not like? As a citizen this should absolutely alarm you and in my opinion alone be the basis to remove Shayler and send a clear message that you expect transparency and accountability… especially in our local government.
Lastly, if you were able to watch the debate, you will notice that the mayor’s vision for our community was very one-dimensional…business, business and business. But our community is so much more. We are generations of families and neighbors young and old. My ten-year vision is not just about economics but also about quality of life. Our vision of business growth also needs to be paired with creating a community that our children will want to stay (or come back to) and invest in… to raise their families and to make Wellsville a beautiful and engaging place for people of all ages.
It’s time for accountability, transparency and real vision. If I have the honor of being elected your mayor, I will strive to lead in a way that empowers all our residents to be an active part of our growth as a community. As mayor, I will ensure that no one will be silenced but rather we will listen and work together to become a model for other communities on how government empowers its citizens to be their best. On Tuesday, as you go cast your vote, please scroll down to the independent line and choose Marshall Green for Wellsville Village Mayor.
Thank you,
Marshall Green
