Stacey Bernot is the epitome of public service and leadership. It is not what she did that makes her impressive; it is how she did it. She handled herself with great integrity, honoring her word, her colleagues, staff, the public, the law and ultimately her family.

She came prepared and educated to every meeting on every topic. If she didn’t know something she would put in the time to learn it. She pushed her colleagues to do a better job too. Most of all, she did it with the ultimate goal of bettering the community and doing it through a fair and just process. What more can you ask of an elected official?

Disagreement is inevitable and not everyone will like everything she did, but it is pretty darn tough to disagree with the sacrifices she has made to help make the community better. And when it comes down to it, she did just that, and will continue to do that in a different capacity.

I am so grateful to have served with Stacey and learn from her over the past two years on the Carbondale Board of Trustees. She has taught me the importance of how you do things over what you do. No matter what the issue is and no matter what decision you make someone will be upset. If you take the time to do it with utmost respect, comprehensive education and proper communication to the best of your abilities, then you are doing a good job of serving the public.

I am very thankful of all Stacey has done for our community and how she did it. And if you are not, then she will be the first to tell you to “step up and do something about it.”

A.J. Hobbs

Carbondale