Irene Wrenner

I met Ken Signorello, owner of the Darkroom Gallery in the heart of Essex Junction, when he and his staff hosted artist receptions. They were also a perennial stop for the annual Train Hop in December over those 13 years.

Ken once asked me about local government, and, fortuitously, I suggested he attend a meeting to see in person what goes on.

That was in July of 2019.  Ken has continued going to meetings ever since.  

Immediately, he picked up on the tone of the dialogue between the Village Trustees and Selectboard: "Why would you merge," he asked, "Why not just separate?"

This would be the first of many times that Ken was years ahead of the rest of us in sensing a problem -- and proposing a solution that was ahead of its time.

The Village voted to Separate two years after Ken proposed his Separate-and-Share plan. Today, the Town and Village still share a Wastewater Treatment Facility and Police Department.

Ken also noticed that informal communication was enabled by proximity in the Village but hindered by distance in the Town. He came up with a simple, workable way for Town residents to connect:

PoliTalk, a 90-minute, moderated, remote chat among neighbors has been going strong for nearly seven years! If you want to know what’s going on in Essex government, just tune in some weekend.

Ken was instrumental in fighting for a merger plan that provided something for everyone: fair representation (3+3) and fair taxation.

When the local newspaper stopped delivery during COVID, he stepped up to report on meetings and take photos / videos, as key member of the Essex ReTorter effort. Residents were treated to regular coverage of meetings and events in both the Village and Town, as well as expert political commentary.

Whether he was crunching numbers to prove that Separation would never deliver a tax decrease to Village residents or editing an article with precision late at night, Essex residents owe a debt of gratitude to Ken for saving our Town from a Takeover.

In recent years, Ken has capably chaired the Conservation & Trails Committee and contributed to business outreach efforts as a member of the Economic Development Commission.

You’d be hard pressed to vote for a smarter, more perceptive, or more energetic, contributing member of the Essex community than Ken Signorello!

Anne Miller

I've never written a public letter endorsing a candidate, and I wasn't asked to write this one. But this year, I feel compelled to speak up — because Ken Signorello is exactly the kind of person Essex needs on its Selectboard.

I first met Ken a year ago at a Selectboard meeting and was immediately impressed by how thoughtfully he engaged — respectful, well-informed, and genuinely focused on the community. Since then, I've watched him chair the Conservation and Trails Committee, and now we serve together on the Economic Development Commission. In both roles, he consistently stands out: running efficient, inclusive meetings, coming prepared, asking good questions, and bringing real solutions to the table.

What I admire most is his approach to public service. He does his homework, he listens, and he doesn't look for fault — he looks for a path forward. His commitment to Essex is genuine, visible in the time and energy he freely gives to make this town better for all of us.

Essex deserves leaders who show up, dig in, and work collaboratively. Ken Signorello does all of that. I hope you'll join me in voting for him for a three-year term on the Essex Selectboard.

Bino Cummings

I have worked with Ken for several years on the Conservation and Trails Committee for the Town. You would be hard pressed to find someone better suited to serve on the selectboard. Ken has an intimate knowledge of the town and its workings, a masterful grasp on the intricacies of meeting laws and management, and most importantly, an apparently infinite supply of energy to see our town improve. I look forward to seeing what he can bring to our town when he is elected to the selectboard.