To the editor:

I hope you will join me on Tuesday as I vote to expand and extend the 10-year tenure of Clare Higgins as mayor of Northampton!

We are so fortunate to live in this terrific city - a vibrant, alive place to live, work, learn, serve and play. We can thank Clare for her leadership and good stewardship of the qualities that contribute to the city's hard-earned reputation as a great place to live, raise your children, work and visit.

I have witnessed Clare working hard for all the citizens of the City. Balancing needs and resources and opinions is not an easy task, but one she takes on with seriousness tempered with good humor. Where others see problems, Clare elevates the discussion to new ways of thinking and collaborating and, yes, sometimes achieving a compromise. Where others seek to blame, Clare approach has been to problem solve.

Her years of experience developing and managing the city's complex budget is a tremendous asset for taxpayers. It is critical to have a mayor with experience and a strong track record in managing the city's resources well and advocating for our interests at the state level.

Mari-Jon Adams-Pullan

Florence