I’m Thom Carnevale and I’m running for Town Council.

Margaret Chase Smith became the first woman to be elected to both houses of Congress. She served as a Republican Congresswoman and U.S. Senator from the state of Maine.

Senator Smith came to national attention in 1950, when she became the first member of the Senate to denounce the tactics used by Sen. Joseph McCarthy in his anticommunist crusade.

Chase had the following to say about public service: “My creed is that public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people with full recognition that every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration, that constructive criticism is not only to be expected but sought, that smears are not only to be expected but fought, that honor is to be earned, not bought.”

Those words inspired me to step up for public service.

For the last month I have crisscrossed the town, listening to both the hopes and concerns of locals.

One issue stands front side: Everyone wants to preserve and protect the quality of life in Telluride. I share that concern.

Telluride is a town that embraces a common sense approach to problem solution. Telluridians are not afraid to stand tall for lofty ideals, for lofty principles.

If you would like to join our campaign to protect Telluride’s quality of life, to fight for fiscal responsibility, to work to provide affordable housing, and to foster a sustainable environment tell your friends about our effort, encourage unregistered voters to register at the county clerks’ office, write letters of support to the editors of our local newspapers, escort voters to the polls on election day.

If elected to the Town Council my work will be to help craft policy that will make Telluride a better place to live. The issue in this campaign is not about me, or my opponents, but about what we believe, and about what we will bring to the council table.

If you honor me by electing me to Town Council I promise to do the job efficiently and honestly with a complete dedication to the people, with the full recognition that every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration.

As you well know, one vote in Telluride can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

Common sense, competence, courage, vote for Thom Carnevale for Town Council.