Dear Editor:

May elections are nearing. I am writing in hopes many will get out and vote for change.

This article is for anyone who has interacted with the current and past Leo town Council, including surrounding communities. Have you had a concern, but received an answer from Leo town Council that left you scratching your head? Or an ex employee that worked at Leo Town Hall that endured hostile, unhealthy work conditions? If so, this article is for you.

I’ve been a part of the Leo community since 1979 and a resident of the town since 1996. I worked at the Leo Town Hall for six years until 2018. Had I walked away intimidated, like other people and ex employees, I’d be condoning very poor behavior from town leaders. I feel if people are not actively standing up for what’s right, they are also part of the problems in this world.

Leo desperately needs a new fresh counsel that we can trust. I owe so much to this community for all they’ve done for me and my family, to stand tall and truthful in hopes of seeing Leo become what it once was. Residents and employees both should feel free to ask questions without ramifications and steep consequences. They should feel free to tell the truth without losing jobs, defacing memorials, silencing and threats from council.

As a previous employee, I can honestly say Washington D.C.’s negative pattern can and does seep down into small towns. With transparency and honesty there will be trust again. Also, which member of counsel has been responsible for protecting tax paying residents by doing background checks on councilmembers, making sure they have upstanding financial history of directing their own dollars?

I feel members should not be allowed to direct our tax dollars if they have open or active bankruptcy or small claim cases. This is very uncomfortable. Please get out and vote May 3 for new faces, as this is our chance to get the values back Leo once attained and other surrounding communities also.

Let’s work together and get kindness, respect, positivity, values and most of all honesty back for our fine communities. Together we can do this.

— Tina Clark