To the voters of Monroe,
I have spent much of my career studying what it means to trust someone. Trust isn’t just a vague feeling. It can be measured. In “The Speed of Trust,” Stephen M.R. Covey explains that trust is built on two pillars: Character and Competence.
If someone has competence but no character — like a stockbroker with a fraud conviction — you wouldn’t hand them your savings.
And if someone has character but no competence — like my wonderful wife, whom I’d never ask to perform surgery — you wouldn’t put your life in their hands.
Real trust requires both.
That’s why I trust Ben Sabia. Over the past 12 years, I’ve seen his character and competence in action time and time again.
Competence: Ben’s attention to detail isn’t limited to his hobbies — it shows up in his service to Monroe. For the last two years, he’s served on the Inland Wetlands Commission, where he’s had a front-row seat to the real issues our town faces.
He’s learned the procedures, the regulations, and the practical steps needed to protect Monroe’s environment, while planning for its growth. That experience matters. It’s one thing to talk about policy in theory. It’s another to sit in the meetings, weigh the evidence, and make decisions that affect our shared community.
Ben has also earned the trust of local leaders. As treasurer for Leon’s campaign, he became a go-to voice inside the Democratic Town Committee. Handling campaign finances requires precision, responsibility, and honesty. Ben proved himself more than capable. Considering he’s only in his early thirties, the fact that long-standing community members look to him as a trusted partner speaks volumes about his competence and maturity.
Character: Ben’s values shine through every interaction. Despite his size, he’s one of the warmest, most approachable people you’ll meet. His bright Hawaiian shirts always spark a smile, but it’s his genuine curiosity and kindness that people remember. Wherever we go, he treats strangers like friends, and friends like family.
Most of all, I see his character in how he treats my daughter. She has significant developmental needs. At five-years-old, she is non-verbal, still in diapers, and sometimes struggles with aggression.
Ben has never once shown her anything but patience, acceptance and joy. That’s not for show. That’s who he is at his core. And if you want to know someone’s true character, watch how they treat people who can’t offer them anything in return.
Monroe is at its best when leaders bring both competence and compassion to the table. Ben Sabia does exactly that. He showcases the willingness to develop this community into something even greater than it already is. Some of this will require actual building, such as repairing the schools and roads. But more than that, it requires people with an eagerness to bring people in the community together.
I am proud to call him my brother-in-law, and I am even prouder to endorse him for Town Council. I trust him — and I believe Monroe should too.
Sincerely,
Mike “Red” Stafstrom
