EDITOR:
After living in Gilroy for 35 years, in June 2002, I retired and
moved to Morgan Hill. While residing in Gilroy, I had the pleasure
of serving on the City Council with Tom Springer.
EDITOR:
After living in Gilroy for 35 years, in June 2002, I retired and moved to Morgan Hill. While residing in Gilroy, I had the pleasure of serving on the City Council with Tom Springer.
Though I have the utmost respect for the members of the Dispatch’s “Editorial Board,” I was appalled to read their editorial on ex-Mayor Springer. It was extremely mean-spirited and grossly unfair and inaccurate!!!
Some of the high points of Tom’s tenure are:
1. To my knowledge, he never missed a Council meeting during his terms as Councilman and mayor. Think of the hours that entailed.
2. He attended every event, social affair and committee meeting that was expected of him, plus many events that were not required or expected.
3. Tom was responsible for many, many beneficial accomplishments for the city of Gilroy, too numerous to itemize in this letter.
4. He is a very caring, conscientious and compassionate individual, who always returned phone calls and patiently answered constituents’ questions, no matter how trivial they were or how busy he may have been.
5. He graciously allowed commentary from citizens during meetings, some who went on at great lengths.
6. Tom donated his monthly salary to local groups. Yes, he gave away his hard-earned pay!! He felt these organizations or perhaps individuals, needed it more than he did.
7. He put in countless hours, over and above what was expected of his position. His boundless energy always astounded me.
Conversely, and in direct contradiction of your editorial, I fail to see one negative about Tom Springer’s council and mayoral service, unless it was his mental ability. He is such an intelligent person that often he talks above the normal person’s head. I fail, however, to see how that could possibly negate all of his outstanding accomplishments.
I, for one, am grossly offended by your derogatory editorial and feel it goes many steps beyond the old saying, “Being a politician is a thankless job.”
Lisabeth A. Gifford, Morgan Hill
Submitted Sunday, Nov. 23
