Correcting the Record

"During the recent mayoral debate, both candidates delivered closing statements outlining their positions. However, several factual inaccuracies were made that I’d like to address. Since the format did not allow for rebuttals, I will present them here.

During Ms Bruno’s closing statement, she made the following comments:

Barbara Bruno: “Mr. Campbell and I have served on Council together, and we have only voted differently on three motions. All three were in September of 2024, over a year ago.”

Here are the facts, item by item:

1. Barbara Bruno: "He voted against a parameters resolution without saying why:"

My Response: This resolution would have authorized bonding $1,425,000 to purchase land next to Town Hall. I stated my reasons for voting no at the time; it’s incorrect to suggest I offered no explanation.

2. Barbara Bruno: "He voted against the employment agreement for the Town Manager because he felt a three-year term should have been included…"

My Response: The proposed contract for Town Manager Rick Wixom had no term limit, and could only be ended by mutual agreement. The contract also included 12 months of severance pay and benefits if Mr Wixom were terminated. I argued for a three-year term and successfully persuaded Council to reduce severance to six months. Ms. Bruno supported the no-term, mutual-consent model, and initially, the 12-month severance. Also notable: this item appeared on the agenda only days before Mr. Wixom’s prior contract expired, leaving no realistic time to negotiate better terms.

3. Barbara Bruno: "And he voted against a motion to approve a development agreement for workforce housing at the Bit and Spur property, again without saying why."

My Response: I did explain my vote. The amended Development Agreement would have extended completion to up to 4½ years—beyond the original 3 years and out of step with other timelines in Town code (e.g., the Transient Lodging Overlay’s 3 ½-year completion window). The project has still not begun.

It’s one thing to disagree on policy; it’s another to misstate the record.