Until very recently, I was responsible for a multinational corporation which is a major employer in Suffolk.  Through my long (25+-year) career with this firm, I have had the opportunity to live and work in different communities in the U.S. and several overseas. I would like to provide the following observations based on this experience:

The quality of life in Suffolk is important to all local residents.  Achieving and maintaining the high standard we have come to enjoy here is the primary responsibility of local government. Finding a way to pay for the benefits we have all come to enjoy is a tremendous challenge in light of today’s economic realities n it requires contributions from both industry and private residents to insure success long term.

I observe that Suffolk has achieved an optimum balance between these two groups through its policy of “Balanced Growth.” The operations of the firm I managed here in Suffolk generate more than 99 percent of its revenue from outside the local area n selling  products in all 50 states and over 20 countries around the globe.  These sales bring money into Suffolk through the salaries we pay, goods and services we buy locally and in the form of taxes we pay directly to the city. 

We find Suffolk, not only a good business partner for our operations, but also a wonderful community for our people to live.  It is important for us to be able to recruit talented employees to run and support our complex businesses; many times this involves relocating people to Suffolk. Fortunately, the high quality of life here enables us to attract the caliber of talent we need to maintain our competitive edge in the global economy. I have observed that the city government helps preserve the quality of life, by supporting business development, while at the same time insuring the resources of the area are not exploited by industries lacking a commitment to social responsibility.

Balanced grow this good for Suffolk. It is the best policy to insure that amenities and services from the city are available at the lowest possible tax rate.

Please join me in supporting balanced growth in Suffolk and Mayor Bobby Ralph’s re-election to insure we keep the community moving in the right direction. 

Bill Leber

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