Dear Editor:
First of all thank you for the excellent editorial on Mayor Stu Wells and his wife Dr. Martha Collins in the October 29 edition of the Osoyoos Times.
It was insightful and empathetic and your reporting in another part of the paper was thorough and gave Wells the opportunity to share some of his deep seated feelings with us.
During the years that I served on the board of directors with Destination Osoyoos, I had the opportunity to be in meetings with Wells, both in his capacity as a councillor and later, as Mayor.
Quite naturally we didn’t always agree on everything but we always respected each others point of view.
From first hand experience I can say without hesitation that here is a man that has given back to his community to the best of his ability.
While I haven’t had as much interaction with his wife, I have always found her to be warm and personable at various meetings and functions that we both attended.
The fact that Wells chose her for his wife and partner speaks for itself.
While the whole experience has been less than enjoyable for both, I am quick to point out that there have been a few times in my life when I have done something rather stupid and that if there had been a video camera on me I would have felt even more sheepish than I did.
I think most of us can agree that “to err is human to forgive is divine.”
Stu put it very well when he said that his detractor’s would jump on the incident and his supporters would understand.
An outstanding contribution to our community should not wiped out by a silly mistake.
I just wanted to state the the Wells’ supporters in Osoyoos understand.
Thank you.
Derek Noske
Osoyoos, B.C.
