Dear Editor:

My name is Karen Schmutzler and I live on S Krueger Ave in the Village of Weston. I have been a resident of our community since 1968. I worked for the Village of Weston for 19 years as Deputy Clerk/Treasurer. After my retirement, I served 5 terms on the Board of Trustees, as well as, various committees and commissions.

Like many of you, I got to know my neighbor, Loren White, as an officer with the former Town of Weston Police. Our community watched him promoted through the ranks and eventually retire from Everest Metro Police as its Deputy Police Chief. Weston has watched as Loren White was among a select group of community volunteers and charter members who started the Town of Weston Fire Department. In the fire service, Weston watched Loren White also distinguish himself, again, eventually retiring from the department as Fire Chief.

Being both employed by our community and having the opportunity to serve as a Trustee, I have meet so many of our community’s great neighbors and public servants – especially people like Loren White! Many do not know that Loren and I have been neighbors for 40 years. Still others don’t know that after he retired from the police and fire departments, I was one of those neighbors who encouraged him to run for office.

Loren White had a distinguished record of public service, while serving as a public safety professional. Like you, I have watched him continue to serve our community with distinction and integrity, through elected public service. Since 2007, Loren has chaired of the Public Safety Committee, Personnel Committee, Plan Commission, and the Everest Metro Police Joint Finance Committee. We all watched as Loren White was elected after an uncontested race as Weston’s third Village President. During his tenure, and with the Village benefiting from his many years of experience in public safety, Loren oversaw the Village’s fire department merger with the Town of Rib Mountain and the creation of the South Area Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) District, where Loren also serves as a member of the Board of Directors.

Having a strong resume of community service, encouraging Weston to vote for Loren White as Village Trustee should be an easy ask. I, personally, find his candidacy so compelling for the things most of the voters don’t know about Loren White.

Did you know that Loren attends almost every single meeting of the Village, regardless of whether he sits on that committee or not? Did you know that Loren volunteers 100’s of additional hours at Village Hall, helping staff prepare ordinances, research state statutes, and writing reports for the Board of Trustees? Did you know that Loren participates in monthly luncheons with Village employees to hear their concerns? Most recently, Loren took the time to prepare instructional materials and teach staff at the Weston Municipal Center about what to do in the event of a crisis incident, such as an active shooter inside Village Hall.

Loren White should be your first choice on the ballot for selecting a Village Trustee this April 3. Loren White has a track record of dedicated public service, commitment to open and informed government, a strong sense of civic responsibility, as well as a deep appreciate and love for our community. Please join me voting for Loren White for Village Trustee!

By former Village Trustee Karen Schmutzler