Jennifer Friday - Letter to Editor

I continue to hear from residents that they are being told I work for Tyco and am being compensated for my work on the annexation petition. I am hoping to set the record straight once and for all. I have NEVER received any form of compensation from Tyco for my outreach efforts. My efforts have NOT been done on behalf of Tyco but rather to inform residents of the options before them. I spent countless hours talking to residents, sitting at their dining room tables, on their living room couches, talking about the PFAS contamination and possible solutions including annexation, deep wells and the Town’s plan that was presented at the 2/3/22 public listening session. Some residents expressed interest in annexation while others expressed interest in deep wells. Some expressed a desire to do nothing as they currently have no contamination. Very few expressed interest in the Town’s plan for a utility district. My only agenda has been and continues to be ensuring residents are informed and have a choice. I cannot count the number of times I heard “thank you for the information” or “this is the most information I’ve received thus far.” My only motivation in doing all of this is - it’s the right thing to do. Residents deserve to receive information. Residents deserve to be informed. Residents deserve to be kept in the loop. Residents deserve to be part of the solution. Residents have the right to consider all options before them. And if anyone disagrees with those last 5 statements – SHAME ON YOU!

Tyco has paid for a consultant to assist with the annexation process, to guide me on legalities, to assist with mass mailings. Tyco has ensured there is no monetary responsibility assigned to me in assisting Town residents with their petition for annexation. The consultant was disclosed by Tyco in a newspaper ad May 2022. Personally I don’t see how that translates to me working for Tyco. November 2022 a letter came out from Tyco clarifying that I do NOT work for Tyco and yet that is completely disregarded. I am grateful for the consultant to ensure deadlines are met and processes are followed. The only cost to me has been my time, my energy and my reputation as those in opposition resort to lies. What they neglect to recognize and publicly acknowledge is I cannot alone make annexation happen. It is a resident-driven initiative - a majority resident-driven initiative at that. It cannot be done by one lone resident. So as the opposition attempts to tarnish my name by tying me to annexation, they are actually criticizing ALL those residents who have expressed a desire for annexation as a PFAS contamination solution. This is not about me. It never has been. It’s about residents having a voice in solutions that make most sense for them - whether that’s annexation, deep wells or any other solution that arises out of sensible and respectful discussions.

Jennifer Friday
Candidate for Town of Peshtigo Chairperson