My name is Jessica DeBenedetto, I have been a Vernon resident for a combined 15 years, and I am running for Vernon town council.
A little bit about me:
I have spent over 23 years in banking technology, at some of the biggest banks in the world. Today I am a vice president at a midsize bank that is rapidly growing.
I am an elected County Committee member for Vernon district 15.
I am running for town council because this town is changing and I don’t feel that change is for the better. I love this town but it is not what it used to be.
When my family moved here in 1996, Vernon was a place where a lower middle income family could buy a nice home and have a nice life. That is no longer the case. The taxes are unaffordable, as the homes are rapidly becoming.
When I am elected to Vernon town council, my focus will be on these areas:
1. Vote no on wasteful spending and put an end to pet projects.
2. Find a way to put an end to the yearly reassessments, and if we can’t do so legally, never sign onto a contract like this, ever again. But also do another reassessment once the housing market comes back down.
3. Use common sense when it comes to municipal spending and decisions that impact the town and taxpayers as a whole.
4. Ratables.
5. Finish the sewers with a grant we received from the state.
6. Make Vernon a business friendly town, rather than the labyrinth it is today.
Those are my top areas, but I also want to hear from you. What do you care about? What issues in our town would you like to see addressed?
Let’s have a conversation.
Please feel free to send me a message on Facebook and let’s chat. I look forward to hearing from you.
*Note: while I say, business friendly town, and ratables, please know that I love that Vernon is a country mountain town, I am not looking to change that. Its what I love most about my hometown.