Gus Benavides

To the editor:

I would like to take this time to introduce myself to my fellow Gilford citizens. My name is Gus Benavides. Along with my wife and three children, I live at 35 Larch Drive. After living in Massachusetts for more than twenty years, my wife and I decided that the “Massachusetts Miracle,” was not working for us. Rising taxes, shy-rocketing home prices, failing school systems and increasing crime rates where enough for us to decide that it was time to make a life changing choice. Having visited the Lakes Region over the years, we knew in our hearts that there was only one town we wanted to live in and raise our children and that was the Town of Gilford. Shortly after living here, I joined the Gilford Rotary Club, where I began to serve in my community. This civic-minded club gave me the opportunity to join forces with caring Gilford citizens in meeting the needs of many of our neighbors. Serving the community in this capacity gave me the desire to serve others.

In the past couple of years, I have been troubled at many of the similarities that caused our family to leave Massachusetts. Taxes in town have begun to rise along with housing costs. Thankfully, we have a superior school system with dedicated town employees and administrators that make our schools the envy of our surrounding neighbors. My oldest daughter this past June graduated Gilford High School and is now attending Suffolk University in Boston.

Over the last eleven years that we have lived in Gilford, I have see many families in town faced with hard choices in order to pay for these rising costs. I have heard too many people say that they love living in Gilford but are unsure of how to pay to live here. In a Town with over $1.6-billion in taxable property, there has to be a better way of meeting our obligations and maintaining a comfortable standard of living.

With that in mind, I have decided to run for the open seat of selectman on March 13, 2007. I believe that as a community our first goal must be to come together and put the needs of the entire Town ahead of personal agendas. The times of personal attacks must come to an end. The headlines in our newspapers should be heralding the successes of our Town.

As a Selectman, my goal is to work together with the town employees and hundreds of volunteers that make this a great place to call home. I am a fiscal conservative by nature and as a business man by profession. I believe in living within one’s needs. As a town there should be no difference.

Our town services of fire and police must be valued. These individuals place their lives on the line everyday they work for you and me. As a result, it is our responsibility to equip them with what is needed because our lives and theirs depend on it. Working together we can make sure that we are well protected while still maintaining fiscal integrity.

Listening to the needs of both the town citizen and the town employee will be a major priority for me. Creating a comfortable working environment where productive dialogue is shared is what is needed. Coming together with both School Administrators and School employees with the attempt to raise the educational standards while looking at constructive ways at being responsible with every tax dollar will be my priority everyday I serve this Town.

On March 13, 2007, I would appreciate the honor of your trust by voting for me for Selectman.

Gus Benavides

Gilfrod