I am writing to support David Statman’s candidacy for City Council in Rockland.

The first time I met David and his wife Melissa was around sesven years ago while volunteering at the Community Christmas Dinner organized by Adas Yoshuron, the synagogue in Rockland, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church for more than 25 years.

That wouldn’t seem to be so unusual as dozens of folks turn out to help the synagogue put on the Christmas and Easter community dinners, as well as a monthly soup kitchen at that location. But David and Melissa Statman had only recently bought a house in Rockland and had not yet lived here a full year.

Since that first meeting I have come to know David Statman well and now realize that turning up to work as a volunteer as one of his first activities in Rockland is not surprising.  (David’s service on behalf of our community has included volunteering at the AIO Food and Energy Assistance, serving as treasurer of the Good Tern Coop and as the president of our congregation at Adas Yoshuron.) If someone points out that David isn’t “from” Maine, my response is:  that’s true – but David and Melissa plan to live here the rest of their lives and, while Melissa continues to work for the Maine Education Association, David dedicates more time and energy to serving our community than many lifelong Maine residents are able or choose to do.

I know David to strongly support efforts to build affordable housing nso that younger people can afford to rent or buy housing here, older people continue to stay here, and local businesses can find local workers.

David has unfortunate life-changing personal experience with the need for improving the safety of Rockland’s streets for pedestrians, bicyclers and drivers. David will support making needed changes in Rockland, but not as an ideologue. He wants to hear all points of view and seeks evidence to support proposals for change before casting his vote.

I hope you’ll join me in voting for David Statman.

Laurence Coe lives in Rockland