Letters: Santarsiero the clear choice on Election Day

During my 30-plus years experience in human resources, as a practitioner, executive and independent consultant, I have been involved in leadership selection and development many, many times. That experience has proven to me that in addition to the unique knowledge and experience needed for a particular position, great leaders have several common characteristics – integrity, a passion to serve others, the intelligence to grasp very complex issues and a commitment to do what is best for those they serve.

For the last several years I have observed both candidates for Pa. Rep. for the 31st District – Steve Santarsiero and Rob Ciervo. The contrast between the two on these four leadership qualities is significant.

Rep. Santarsiero has declined the per diem, salary increase and state-supplied car due him as a Pa. Representative. He packs his lunch and keeps his reimbursable expenses to a bare minimum. He insists on contributing to his health care plan, even though the vast majority of representatives, including his colleagues from Bucks County, do not. I’ve knocked on doors with him and have confidently told my neighbors this is a man they can trust.

Steve gave up a promising career as an attorney, and much greater compensation opportunity, because 9/11 motivated him to choose a life of service. In addition to being our current representative, he worked as an educator, coaches youth baseball, and served as chair of the Lower Makefield Board of Supervisors. He’s done all this because he passionately believes in our community and our democracy and wants to make them better for everyone.

He’s committed to helping his constituents, even when he has to buck powerful people. Whether it’s protecting our children from internet predators, fighting to get our neighbors who work in N.J. grandfathered in the N.J. First Act, insuring quality of life in our neighborhoods by getting sound barriers included in the Scudder Falls Bridge project and traffic calming on Stoopville Road, bringing new jobs into the area, helping our veterans by getting them property tax relief or helping children stay out of trouble with Period Z the volunteer-staffed after-school program for middle schoolers – for Steve it’s all about us. It doesn’t matter what party you are, what part of the district you live in, or whether you voted for him – Steve listens to everyone.

His grasp of the issues is remarkable. He truly listens to all sides and finds solutions that others can’t. He’s an independent thinker, pragmatic, and empathetic.

Steve has the integrity, passion, intelligence and commitment, as well as the knowledge, experience, that define a great leader. We need great leadership. We need Steve Santarsiero. The distinction and choice on Nov. 2 is clear.

Joanne Bintliff-Ritchie, Newtown