To the Editor:

My wife Kellie and I are very well entrenched and involved in our community. We have two young children coming up through Sippican School, and Kellie sits on the boards of both the Marion Natural History Museum and the Sippican Lands Trust. Our kids are just reaching the age where they are riding their bikes to and from school, and are regular fixtures at most local events. To put it mildly we LOVE our town and feel incredibly lucky to get to raise our family here.

Some of you may, or may not be aware that we recently started a small business here in Marion. We started from scratch less than four years ago. We have been incredibly fortunate to find a small niche where I am able to help people enjoy their boats here on the harbor and beyond.

Two plus years ago we started the process of purchasing 291 Wareham St. as the future home of our small boatyard. For the 291 Wareham St. project we brought on a great local engineer and retained local council to form a team with vast experience and very local knowledge to assist us in this process.

Our site did present some challenges. However, we were able to engineer a site plan that fit quite well within all zoning and local bylaw parameters. We presented this site plan to the planning board of which Mr. Hills and Mr. Gonsalves are members at an informal inquiry to be sure we were on the right track. That meeting went quite well, our team left feeling as though we had a few issues to work out, but were highly encouraged by all members of the board's enthusiasm. That encouragement would fade to frustration and financial hemorrhaging that was out of our hands. To say we were in the wrong place at the wrong time is an understatement. Regardless of your feelings about the now dead CVS project, we were undeniably affected by it in our efforts to develop our plan for Saltworks Marine.

During our time with the planning board, one candidate for Selectman repeatedly was an outspoken advocate for what he felt was a good business for our town. He often had to remind some members of the board that our hearings were about Saltworks Marine's project, not other projects that may be coming before them. One candidate stood up for principals and put aside the politics that were causing such difficulties in our case.

One candidate viewed the facts before him, took into account all of our efforts and preparation. That candidate had a clear understanding of the regulations, yet he really understood just how much each obstacle cost. He was intelligent, aware and thorough, and a leading voice for common sense. His commons sense interpretation of our bylaws, practical big picture understanding and thoughtful consideration of the town of Marion's future was the one positive experience we came away with during our site plan review experience.

Quite simply he gets it. He gets what it takes to run a business, he gets what it takes to help run a town. He did not and would not let an outside agenda influence his integrity. He gets what challenges may lay ahead, and through reason, logic, understanding and common sense is willing to step up and lead. He fights for the town he loves. You may not have seen him out campaigning, he is constantly working....to support his family and our community.

Steve Gonsalves is getting my vote for Selectman.

Dan Crete, Marion