Thank you, Cheshire. Au revoir -- until we meet again

I’d like to announce tonight that I’m resigning from the Town Council, effective October 24.

I am resigning from the Council because I have accepted a position as the Director of Administration and Finance for the Haitian Health Foundation. HHF is headquartered in Norwich, CT, but I will be living and working in Haiti for the next year or two.

Having just spent time in Haiti,* one of the poorest nations in the world, I was again reminded of my appreciation for America’s freedoms and material abundance that we so often take for granted.

I was deeply moved by the tragedy of the earthquake and wanted to do more than just donate money. I’ve never been particularly concerned with making a lot of money, as much as I’m concerned with trying to make a difference for the common good.

I wanted to personally contribute the best of my skills. Having lived in the developing world – I lived in Vietnam from 1995 to 1998 – I know I’d be comfortable living in Haiti. And having studied in Paris, my French language skills will be helpful.

My position with HHF will allow me to contribute my CPA skills as their director of finance, and to do humanitarian work directly with many Haitian people in the field.

I have loved serving the residents of the fourth district and all of Cheshire.

I have been most motivated by the basic principles of good government: accountability, transparency, responsiveness and effective long-term planning.

During my seven years on the Council, I’ve strived to bring each of these to you with some success.

At times, some may have thought that I was harsh on management. But that’s because the taxpayers have little tolerance for waste and mismanagement and they want people held accountable for their actions. Times are tough and we need to use our tax dollars wisely. Having reduced the number of town take-home vehicles is one of the ways in which I’ve helped to reduce wasteful spending.

I’ve also tried to increase transparency in local government, successfully advocating the addition of Council meeting video to the town website and increasing the use of new media by the town, including the forthcoming addition of Council meetings and government channels to AT&T’s U-verse.

And I’ve tried to be responsive. Besides policy issues, I have a list of about 30 outstanding constituent concerns. When my replacement is named, I’ll contact him or her to ensure a smooth transition of your concerns. And if you’re interested in serving the fourth district, please contact the Republican Chairman, Adam Grippo.

More effective long-term planning is another improvement we’ve seen. From modernizing the town’s pension plans, to comprehensively addressing the approach taken by the Public Works department, and with various other projects, we’re making solid progress for Cheshire’s future.

As for my blog, it’s really a diary of sorts. I expect to continue posting on it, but I don’t expect to focus on local issues. If you want to stay in touch or learn more about my time in Haiti, you can still visit my blog or friend me on Facebook!

Finally, during my four terms in the 17th through 20th Councils, I’ve served with 17 different Council members. I thank all of you. I thank all town employees for your work. I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for giving me this time. I thank the voters of the 4th district for giving me the opportunity to serve you. And I especially thank my two biggest supporters – thanks mom and dad.

But this isn’t a goodbye forever. This is just au revoir – until we meet again.

God bless you all and God bless America.

Tim White

* See here, here and here.