I went to the Democratic Primary Debate the other night eager to listen to those candidates who have decided to put themselves forward and serve our village.

I know Michelle Twichell quite well and have observed her as a village trustee for the last four years. I was really there for the two new candidates the Democratic Party has endorsed.

The whole spectacle was depressing and left me quite empty. It was more than obvious that, although both have the drive, they lack any knowledge of where the village is at this pivotal moment. They had no position on the water issue and proclaimed that if we only had an administrator to do the mayor’s job everything would’ve been so much better.

Not only is this factually wrong, an administrator has nothing to do with the budget or the water, much more importantly it demonstrates their lack of understanding of the urgency of the moment. I have nothing against the two new candidates, as a matter of fact I like them and think either, or both, could make very good trustees if the times were normal.

But these are not normal times.

The village of Fredonia is at a critical point as the money has been spent, the savings have been spent and the administration has not provided a clear path forward.

There is no room for a learning curve they will undoubtably need. Michelle Twichell has demonstrated time and time again that she has the knowledge, background, experience and disposition to do the job. She knows the rest of the board members well and hasn’t stopped trying to bring consensus on all the important issues. Although many times isolated, even by her Democratic colleagues, she has never lost her temper or her will to fight for the people of this village.

Athanasia Landis is former mayor and a Fredonia resident.