As a longtime resident of Longmeadow, I was excited to learn that Vineeth Hemavathi was running for a seat on our Select Board. I have met and spoken with Vineeth, and like so many others who have engaged with him, I am genuinely impressed by his knowledge of our area, his understanding of the role of the Select Board, and his passion to serve the town.

For those who haven’t met Vineeth when he was knocking door-to-door during his grassroots campaign, you should know that he has an impressive history of public service including working with victims of domestic violence, helping families find affordable housing and teaching kids in underperforming schools how to read.

He attended one of the best law schools in the country, was trained at the FBI Academy, served as a national security analyst and was a middle school English teacher. He is now an attorney for the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center. He is well versed in property law, public housing and civil rights, all relevant to the town of Longmeadow. As an attorney, he can shed light on our town bylaws and help provide understanding of pending litigation such as the expansion of the Eversource Gas Pipeline and issues at the DPW site. And because Vineeth is a former teacher, he would be a useful member of the Select Board as we make decisions about our new Middle School. Vineeth also has a special interest in helping seniors with limited incomes find housing so that they can remain living in town.

You will not meet a more honorable and earnest individual. So, I was truly troubled when I read a letter to the editor in The Reminder (Feb. 21), that not only contained misinformation about Vineeth’s voting record, but suggested that since he has not been a town resident for 20 years, he would be less qualified to serve on our Select Board. In fact, Vineeth has everything to qualify him as an excellent representative of the town. He listens. He cares. He unites people of every age together. These are qualities that will help bring Longmeadow into the future.

Longmeadow would be very lucky to have Vineeth serve on our Select Board. I will be honored to cast my vote for him on March 7.

Deborah Sirulnik
Longmeadow