Endorsements for Tom Creamer Found in Local Newspapers

Creamer’s Actions Louder Than Words: Town Common – April 2, 2009 / Sturbridge Villager April 3, 2009

To the Editor:

It is with great pleasure that we endorse Tom Creamer for selectman. His tireless efforts in Sturbridge have been to the benefit of all residents. Tom is the cofounder of the all-volunteer senior energy program REAS Foundation, which has provided heating assistance to 50 Sturbridge seniors.

Tom co-wrote the Senior Tax Assessment Reduction Co-Op that is now being sponsored by Senator (Stephen) Brewer. This will allow residents to provide services to the town and have their work credited to a qualifying Sturbridge senior’s tax bill, bringing needed relief to seniors while obtaining cost effective services for the community.

He has also spent a great deal of time and energy working with surrounding communities in an effort to secure more funding for the Elderbus. This valuable service is a life safer to seniors who depend upon it for doctor’s appointments.

During this year’s ice storm, 72 Sturbridge families were without power for a week. It was Tom Creamer who organized volunteers, secured hotel rooms, warming stations and generators, to assist these Sturbridge residents. His efforts enabled many families to return or remain in their homes and helped reduce the stress.

When a fire ravaged the home of a Sturbridge resident several months ago, it was Tom Creamer who initiated a fund to help this Sturbridge family in need.

While others talk or claim credit for doing things, Tom Creamer is out busy actually doing them and making a difference in people’s lives. Tom Creamer is a leader, a person of action, and commitment. Sturbridge needs that now more than ever. We happily support and endorse Tom Creamer.

ROB AND STACY COURTNEY – STURBRIDGE


Creamer a Man of Passion, Zeal: Sturbridge Villager – April 3, 2009

To the Editor:

I write today in support of Tom Creamer for Selectman. Tom is a man of conviction who commits himself 100 percent to everything he undertakes. He immerses himself in the subject matter at hand, making sure that when he discusses an issue or topic he does so as an informed individual.

Over the many years I have known him we have generally agreed on most issues, but we have not agreed on all. Even when we have disagreed he has never allowed his arguments to devolve into emotional appeals or personal attacks. He stays on topic. He may present his arguments with passion and zeal, but the arguments themselves are always articulated with logic, fact, and calculated analysis.

There are those who may not agree with his position on an issue, or who many not always agree with his format or approach. That is a good thing as we need differing viewpoints and demeanors to cultivate meaningful dialogue on all the issues facing our community. We need to be challenged and questioned, forced to think critically about our viewpoint and further refine our position.

What I ask Sturbridge voters is this: Will your candidate drive meaningful discussions, ask probing questions, and not settle for simple answers void of verifiable, factual data? Will your candidate voice a call to action and then follow through? Will your candidate demand accountability from him/herself and others? Those are, I believe, the right questions to ask about the candidate you support. Tom Creamer is the candidate who can answer those questions with a resounding “yes.”

Will Tom win the next popularity contest or congeniality award? I don’t know, and quite frankly, I don’t care. This is not, nor should it be, the litmus test for our selectmen. We should expect more from those we elect, and since we are the ones to elect them, we should expect more from ourselves. Please vote for Tom Creamer for Selectman on April 13.

JENNIFER MORRISON - STURBRIDGE


Endorsements Offered in Sturbridge: Southbridge Evening News – April 1, 2009

To the Editor:

Last year voters granted me the honor of serving as a Sturbridge selectman. I am very grateful for the privilege and today I write as a voter myself.

Years before the national economy tanked, we witnessed a major decline in new business expansions in Sturbridge. Many businesses closed or moved to other communities. The responsibility for this decline is due mostly to our local leadership.

Too often, we have seen the stifling of economic growth based on unfounded fears of losing our town’s “character.” Nothing has been more damaging to Sturbridge’s character than the increasing number of empty stores and the loss of local jobs.

As a resident, I believe we’d all like more leisure opportunities beyond simply eating out at local restaurants or an occasional visit to OSV or the local playhouse. People want to be able to visit quaint shops, catch a movie at a local cinema, or play a little miniature golf, as we did when we were young. Little or none of that exists today, mostly due to leadership that has been short-sighted.

Residents and visitors need reasons to visit or move to Sturbridge. That said, I ask for help in moving Sturbridge forward. We need to increase our tax base so that we can lessen the burden on residents. We can protect our character and still thrive.

I grew up in Sturbridge and want to see my future grandchildren have the same quality of life here that I did. If we continue the path we’re on, we have little chance of revitalizing the Main Street most of us once knew.

For these reasons, I as a resident will vote for Tom Creamer and James Erhard for selectmen on April 13. These are the two residents most capable of helping to restore our local economy while protecting Sturbridge’s character. I respectfully ask for voter consideration in supporting these two candidates.

SCOTT GARIERI – STURBRIDGE


Creamer’s Record of Service Excellent: SEN March 31 2009

To the Editor:

We write to offer our endorsement of Tom Creamer for selectman. Tom has served his country with great honor and distinction as a decorated Marine, a Special Advisor and Technical Operations Director with the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Homeland Security. He also served his community in Worcester as a professional firefighter and as a community volunteer leader, receiving numerous awards from the United Way, the American Heart Association, the Massachusetts Legislature, the President of the United States, as well as many colleges, universities and other social organizations for his commitment to community service.

Here in Sturbridge, he helped create an all-volunteer senior energy assistance fund, which provides fuel assistance to Sturbridge seniors on fixed incomes. He also worked with Selectman Scott Garieri to develop a senior tax credit program, which will enable people to provide services to the town and in lieu of payment can have that service credited to the tax bills of Sturbridge seniors on fixed incomes.

Tom’s public efforts were key in the formation of our economic development committee, which had been sought by the Finance Committee for years. The FinCom recommendation received no recognition from elected officials until Tom began publicly raising the issue.

When families were powerless for a week during the ice storm, Tom Creamer and other volunteers stepped right into action to assist these residents. The same was true when a Sturbridge family was displaced by fire this past year.

Tom Creamer is a proven leader who has repeatedly demonstrated his commitment to the residents of this community. He is our choice for selectman and we urge you to support him as well.

GREGORY AND MARIA PETTIS – STURBRIDGE


A Record to Believe In: Town Common April 2, 2009 / Sturbridge Villager April 3, 2009

To the Editor:

There is one candidate in the 2009 Board of Selectmen’s race who has the record to back up his platform. I have known Tom Creamer for almost a year-and-a-half and have been most impressed by his ability to take action, follow through and get things done.

At the beginning of last summer, Tom Creamer shared with me his idea for the REAS Foundation and asked if I would get involved. For those not familiar, REAS is an organization that provides energy assistance for seniors. The organization came together quickly and simply took off. REAS completely exceeded my expectations with respect to how a local community can come together to help its own.

There were many people and many reasons why REAS has been and continues to be a success. However, there is one person who really drove the success of REAS and that was Tom Creamer. His ability to engage the community, inspire enthusiasm about the REAS mission, solicit funds and create a solid organization was critical to the success of REAS. The REAS Foundation isn’t even a year old yet and has had the success most organizations of this kind only dream about.

If Mr. Creamer’s record with the REAS Foundation wasn’t enough to convince people of his capabilities as a selectman, then his actions during the 2008 ice storm may. Many of us will remember the ice storm that occurred in December 2008. This negatively impacted both Tom Creamer and many other residents in Sturbridge. Tom quickly pulled together key members of the community to obtain generators, discounted hotel rooms,
electrician services and more to help make sure families in the area could make it through the two-plus weeks it took for power to be restored.

There are many more examples of Tom Creamer’s record that demonstrate his ability to take action, follow through and get things done. No other candidate for the 2009 selectmen’s race has more fully demonstrated such ability to work so passionately and effectively for the betterment of Sturbridge. That’s why I will be voting for Tom Creamer for selectman on April 13th.

PATRICK R. BABCOCK – STURBRIDGE


Endorsement Offered in Local Election: SEN April 2, 2009

To the editor:

I am honored and privileged to know Tom Creamer. Therefore, it is with great confidence and pleasure that I endorse him for the board of selectmen for the Town of Sturbridge.

His passion for and commitment to our community, particularly the seniors and those in need, point proof positive as to why Tom Creamer is the logical choice for selectman for the Town of Sturbridge. His efforts and call to action in establishing the senior energy assistance fund, the tax reduction program for seniors on fixed incomes and his tireless effort working with other communities to increase Elderbus funding showcase his commitment to the residents of Sturbridge.

A few years ago Mr. Creamer had the foresight to recognize the deteriorating conditions and bleak economic pose that embellished Main Street Sturbridge. Tom brought to light the need to form an economic development committee before the situation could worsen. His unbridled vision and proactive efforts were instrumental in the establishment of that committee.

Mr. Creamer also coordinated efforts and worked endless hours with a group of volunteers during the December 2008 ice storm going door-to-door daily for over a week providing generators, support and compassionate assistance to residents in Sturbridge. Also, during this emergency Tom Creamer was able to secure reduced price lodging with the assistance of our area motels, for those who could not stay in their own homes.

Tom Creamer recognizes problems, provides real solutions, and follows through to ensure successful completion. This is leadership. This is what Sturbridge needs and why I endorse Tom Creamer and ask you to do the same.

I also ask that we make this one of the largest voter turnouts in Sturbridge history. Please cast a vote.

Calvin Montigny – Fiskdale


Throws support behind two candidates Town Common: April 2, 2009 / SEN April 3, 2009

To the Editor:

I am writing to endorse James Ehrhard and Thomas Creamer for the position of Selectman in the Town of Sturbridge. Both are open-minded, pro-business candidates who also understand the unique nature and character of Sturbridge.

The right choices must be made to ensure that we do bring growth to Sturbridge in order to broaden our tax base which will not only help reduce our future tax burden but which will more importantly provide a deeper well to draw from for the critical infrastructure projects which we will soon need, including the sewage treatment facility, water facility, Town Hall and Center Street School, and the new Burgess Elementary School.

Both James and Tom have proven to be thoughtful and judicious in their current Town positions and are well suited to steering our Town through the difficult and expensive times ahead. Please give them support on Election Day, Monday, April 13.

MICHAEL CIMINI
STURBRIDGE