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School Committee, at-large City Council candidates address
voters
Their answers are below in alphabetical order. Statements from mayoral and City Council Ward candidates will appear in the Oct. 26 issue of this newspaper. City Council at large candidates Jennifer Boudrie I've enjoyed a 20- year career in education and small business that required leadership skills and budget management. My husband and I are 17-year residents of Marlborough. I recently asked 100 residents "What is most important to you in Marlborough?" The top four answers were "education, safety, environment, and diversity." Specific answers were: overall education quality, increased traffic in our neighborhoods, loss of open space, and managing diversity. Many of these issues relate to development and growth in Marlborough. If elected to City Council I will be
As Marlborough continues to grow and develop, I will continue to listen to residents, look for smart solutions, and work with city officials to make a difference for the residents of Marlborough. James Joyce The traits that make me an excellent candidate include: Great mediation and problem solving skills - I believe a local political leader should be open-minded enough to listen to all sides of issues and work with the community to develop strategies that improve life for all in Marlborough. Excellent organizational and communications skills - Very important to presenting recommendations and strategies in a concise, comprehensive manner. Strong leadership skills - getting results demands the skills listed above combined with confidence, determination, and persistence. There are many issues facing Marlborough today.
I would work with parents, school administrators, and city and state leaders to identify the weaknesses in our public education system. We then need to assemble tactical committees of experts who can devise a plan to get us where we want to be. Then we need to get there - on schedule Steven Levy incumbent Proper management of a city includes setting priorities. We need leaders who exercise fiscal restraint and manage government expenditures instead of simply increasing them. My educational background in accounting and finance and my work experience in investment operations set me apart from the other candidates. I have handled multimillion dollar transactions on a daily basis and been responsible for overseeing $60 billion in assets. I have experience managing budgets, identifying waste, and creating efficiencies. This has prepared me to serve on the City Council and specifically on the Finance Committee where significant issues affecting our city are discussed. I am one of the hardest working people to ever sit on the Council.
Public safety and traffic enforcement are the most common concerns I hear. The police department is back to full staffing but the city has grown over the past four years and much was lost in the absence of community policing. I will encourage the Mayor to increase police staffing instead of funding $500,000 in overtime accounts. I believe this is a more cost-effective use of your money and will help build both community policing and a traffic division. We should also restore the police substation on French Hill. Sean Navin My name is Sean Navin and I am a candidate for Marlborough City Councilor-At- Large. I am a lifelong resident of our city and a proud graduate of the Marlborough Public School System. For the past three years, I directed Congressman Jim McGovern's Marlborough office, serving Marlborough, eight other communities and a population of over 150,000.
As a City Councilor, I will focus on improving the quality of life for all our residents. The City Council needs a new direction and must get back to basics: reducing the tax burden while maintaining and improving city services, investing in the backbone of our city - our infrastructure, and ensuring every opportunity for our most valuable assets - our children and seniors. I would be honored to serve the people of this city, and I humbly ask for your input, your support, and your vote on Election Day, November 6th. Michael Ossing incumbent I am running because I believe my experience, education
I am currently serving my fourth term as your Councilor at Large. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering and have been employed at the Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant for over 26 years. Currently the Engineering Support Manager. My passion and more significant contributions over the last two years have been as Chairman of the Finance Committee, Accomplishments include: Using $3 million from free cash to lower the tax burden Reducing the budget by over $1.6 million dollars during the last two fiscal years Increasing the balance in the rainy day fund by over $3.3 million dollars Increased our unused levy capacity to over $7.5 million dollars. This positions the city to borrow money without asking the residents for a Proposition 2.5 override. Reduced the residential tax rate from $13.78 to $12.65 I offer the citizens of Marlboro a councilor that is independent, I have accepted no money from individuals or special interests groups, I have used my money to run the campaign - not yours. Your money belongs in your pocket. This enables me to focus my energies on what is in the best interest of the city and not returning political favors or debts. Patricia Pope incumbent For 8 years I had the honor
The most important issue to face out city is the upgrades to the Waste Water Treatment plants. This will be the single largest and most expensive project our city will face over the next decade. Both the federal and state government mandate these upgrades without providing the necessary funding. A project of this magnitude requires plans be in place before we spend any of the taxpayer's money! I always have and will continue to keep the residents of this city in mind when making the important decisions that come before the council. The residents of Marlborough deserve to know how their money is being spent, and I will ensure that this takes place! Arthur Vigeant incumbent
As a CPA and veteran member of the Marlborough City Council, I have become a wellknown advocate of controlled spending and fought for procedures to ensure bonded items outlive bond terms, called for five-year capital plans and long-range planning to monitor spending. I sponsored the Adopt-A-Space program to support beautification efforts and a voluntary check-off on tax bills for a City Scholarships.
As Council President, I supported legislation for Marlborough's 2010 Corporation for economic development. Continued commercial growth will support a tax rate that is fair to business and maintain a split tax rate to benefit the residential taxpayer. I sincerely thank you for your continued confidence in my ability to serve you. School Committee candidates Monica Burnett As a 2007 graduate of Northeastern University's MBA program and an experienced project manager, if elected, I will be a valuable contributor to the next school committee.
In addition to a more transparent budgetary process, we need to explore more creative ways to enhance curriculum so that each child is required to work up to his or her full potential. MCAS is very important, but children also need to be ready for the challenges they will face in a more competitive global economy. Thank you for your support and your vote on Tuesday, November 6th. Margaret M. Dwyer My name is Margaret Dwyer and I am running for School Committee. I moved to Marlboro ten years ago when I married my husband Michael Hogan, and we have four children - Will, Maeve, Grace and Ellie, who is six weeks. Our two oldest children attend the Jaworek Elementary School. Prior to moving here, I worked for four different Governors in a senior capacity. Once married, I worked as a senior consultant for Bingham Consulting Group. My goal if elected to the school committee is three-fold: work with the new Superintendent to put Marlborough on the map for Excellence in Education; use my fifteen years of political experience to fight for a funding solution at the state level that will lesson our dependence on property taxes as the primary source for funding our schools; use the school committee to forge a consensus with all of the stakeholders involved in our schools - teachers, administrators, parents and students - to build a common vision of how we get to the next step in educational excellence. Katherine Hennessy I am Katherine Hennessy and I am running for school committee. My background consists of broad experience stemming from business, volunteer and life situations. Our community faces multiple issues, budget being a priority. Budget management has been a major focus for me. In each budget situation, there is a need for direct communication, ethics and honesty, and transparency of the financials. We need to approach situations with checks and balances and allow for discussions on all points - which will only enhance our final product. The school operating budget from a single line item in the overall city budget currently stands at over 46 million dollars, representing over 50% of the total city budget. This substantial investment in education merits oversight to ensure cost efficiency for our educational dollars. My various life and business experiences are directly applicable to the school committee - striving to satisfy all of the needs of the district while balancing the economic issues of funding for the entire city. Marlborough's children and the community deserve a school committee consisting entirely of engaged and active participants to best manage our school budget. I will be an active, dedicated member and I will look for your vote Nov. 6th. Kathleen Robey incumbent Serving 12 years on the school committee I've learned how to adapt to changes in the makeup of the committee and the city council in ways that allowed us to work as a team in the best interests of the city's children. I've learned that "do your homework" is not an admonition that should be limited to our students. I'm proud of my reputation for coming to meetings well prepared. I've gained extensive experience in collective bargaining and formulating school policies, which allow me work effectively in these important areas of committee responsibility. Our biggest challenge is finding the right balance in setting funding priorities. A number of initiatives, such as the recent consolidation of the school and city technology departments, need to continue and be enhanced in the coming years. We'll need to make a special effort to hire a strong leader as Director of Special Education. I will offer my support as they advocate for adequate funding for special needs programs and the actions needed to address the recommendations of the ongoing special education audit. I hope to continue to serve as a committee member who can help find the right balance. Cosmo A. Valente incumbent A lifetime commitment to education in the Marlborough Public School (38.5 years of teaching plus 16 years on the School Committee) is perhaps my greatest asset. My knowledge of the community, its leaders, and the schools, both as a taxpayer and an educator, has been a tremendous aid in dealing with the many complex problems which are inherent in a large school system. Education, like our lifestyles, has undergone many changes over the past half century. Greater demands are made of our students today than ever before. As in the past 16 years, working closely with the Mayor, members of the School Committee, and the Administration, I will continue to support all initiatives which will help provide our students with the very best education possible within the restraints of our finances. Immediate priorities: Quality education for all children Time and learning School safety Long-term goals: School space System realignment | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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