Michelle E. Wright has spent her career in public service — first in public education, then in local government, where she served the Town of Ulysses for nearly a decade, including as Second Deputy Supervisor. Along the way, her work as Bookkeeper and later Budget Officer gave her a hands-on, detailed understanding of how municipal finances actually work: where the money comes from, where it goes, and how to keep a town's budget both sound and transparent. Michelle's commitment to civic life reaches beyond her day job. She was elected for a term to the Trumansburg Central School District Board of Education, ran for Tompkins County Legislature in the 2025 election cycle, and is an active advocate for local democracy. Raised in Hector and rooted in the Trumansburg area for most of her life, she has called the Town of Ithaca home since 2021. Now running for Town of Ithaca Town Board, Michelle brings real budget expertise and a genuine belief that local government works best when residents understand it and take part in it. Her focus: helping the Town navigate real affordability challenges while protecting the services that make this community what it is.