Daniels turns clean energy into taxpayer savings

Dear Editor,

In a small town like North Salem, innovative ideas, ability and integrity matter for leadership.

Katherine Daniels has all three and that is why I support her candidacy for Town Supervisor.

Having lived in North Salem for over three decades, I first met Katherine in 2020 after she was elected to the Town Board. She impressed me with her intellect, integrity and energy. At the time she was a practicing attorney, former president of the Board of Education for the North Salem Central School District, an EMT and serving on the Town Board, dedicating herself to serving and improving North Salem.

Since that time, as a result of her initiative, North Salem secured more than $450,000 in grants to pay for the solar installation at the North Salem Highway garage, EV charging stations at Town Hall and Croton Falls, high efficiency air exchange heat pumps for the Community Center, Delancey Hall, Lobdell House and the records vault and an electric vehicle for the Buildings Department. These solar panels will provide an estimated $15,000 credit annually to the town’s total electric bill in addition to producing enough electricity to power the Highway Department’s needs. All of this is of no cost to the North Salem taxpayers. Despite the tired criticism of renewable energy as expensive and an unnecessary waste of taxpayers' money, the savings speak for themselves.

Katherine has delivered on the challenge of providing significant savings of our taxpayers' money while reducing the town’s carbon footprint using renewable and efficient energy. It is her commitment to improvement in all aspects of town governance that impresses me most.

Katherine’s concern for the state of the town's infrastructure is another example of her proactive problem solving approach. Her campaign has highlighted some of the issues with the crumbling 18th and 19th century buildings that serve as our Town Hall. Creating a fiscally responsible plan to update, improve and maintain our municipal infrastructure to minimize tax impact is a key aspect of her vision for North Salem. While she will pursue grants at every opportunity, she will not rely solely upon them, especially when they do not match the values of our town community.

For me, it is apparent that Katherine Daniels’ fresh perspective, experience, integrity and problem solving skills are what North Salem needs to meet the challenges ahead and I respectfully request that you join me in support of her candidacy for town supervisor.

-Christine Misurelli, North Salem