To the Editors:

It is important to return Kelley Singleton to Oberlin’s City Council for a second term. I have never seen a first-term councilmember work as hard as Kelley to understand the issues and to make good decisions.

Kelley very quickly established relationships with the administrative experts in the city, meeting frequently with the city manager, finance director, and law director. He is widely known as someone who wants to learn and to gather information pertinent to a discussion or voting.

Before council meetings, Kelley not only had asked questions of city leaders, but also had carefully read the packet of ordinances and background materials provided by the city clerk. He was always prepared and able to encourage council support for critical issues, whether he was advocating for additional protections of the LGBTQ community or addressing the quality of designs for future city signage.

I doubt that any councilmember can match Kelley’s attendance at virtually every commission meeting. Because of all the hours he has put in and his willingness to ask questions of city administrators, he is more knowledgeable than some council members who have served multiple terms.

Kelley supported legislation reaffirming Oberlin as a sanctuary city as well as council’s proclamation condemning Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accords. He voted to raise the minimum wage for city workers, and he strongly urged council to create Indigenous People’s Day.

Kelley Singleton is a hard working, well informed councilmember. Oberlin would benefit greatly from his reelection.

– Sharon Fairchild Soucy
Member, Oberlin City Council