from LWV:

Please list your Community Activities:

• Winchester Board of Health, elected 2022

• Winchester resident since 2018 and proud father of 2 young children (ages 6 and 2) 

• National Medical Advisory Council, Make-a-Wish Foundation

• Patient Access Steering Committee, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

• Clinical Research Advisory Board, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

What Winchester issues do you think are most important?

The fundamental role of Winchester Town Meeting is to discuss, debate, and approve funding for various important projects and initiatives throughout our town. Town Meeting Members need to enact proactive, sensible, and responsive policies to continue ensuring that our town is a welcome home for residents from all walks of life. Our schools are in need of support, particularly as our students catch up from several years of COVID-affected education. As capital projects including new school buildings come to fruition, ensuring community input and collaboration will be essential. Overall, the town needs to continue promoting equity and diversity in all aspects of local governance. Close collaboration with the Select Board, Town Manager, and all the town departments, boards, and volunteer committees will be essential to continue to meet the goal toward which we should all strive: being a town aiming towards a bright and healthy future for all who choose to live here by investing in the present. 

Of those important issues, which one do you feel most passionate about, and what is your position on that issue?

As a member of the Board of Health, I am invested in protecting and improving the public health of our community. As a town, Winchester is filled with residents who have stepped up to face the challenges of the past 3 years in their personal and professional lives. Over the past year, we have entered a new phase of the COVID pandemic, and other public health challenges have re-surfaced (influenza, RSV, and norovirus, to name a few) and I have continued to advocate for communication with residents and continued easy access to for up-to-date vaccinations and testing needs. 

The pandemic has also contributed to a mental health crisis in our population. As a pediatrician and parent, I have seen first-hand the impact current societal pressures have had on children and teens. The Board of Health has been working with the Health Department and other town leaders to advocate for expanded mental health services. Over the past year, efforts by the Coalition for a Safer Community have continued to prioritize metal health concerns and resources. In the coming year, the BOH and HD will explore further ways to improve community mental health, including judicious allocation of funding the town has received from the recent state-wide opioid settlement.

What does Winchester do well and what might be improved?

Each town committee and board does incredible work in their capacity – but there often are gaps in collaboration and communication across town-wide initiatives. Transparency and collaboration across town bodies including town meeting members, will only strengthen our ability to provide the best possible service to our residents. Additionally, improving efforts town-wide around diversity and equity are needed to ensure our town is a warm, welcoming place for all who choose to live here.

The Town Meeting Communications Study Committee has recommended that a written communications plan be prepared and a town communications manager be appointed by FY2025 (https://www.winchester.us/DocumentCenter/View/9219/Communications-Study-Commiteee_Final-Report_Recommendations). Do you support both recommendations, even if they would involve adding a new full-time position (salary and benefits) to the town budget? If not, what alternative ideas do you suggest?  

Relationship-building, collaboration, and communication are key qualities in a public servant. I am running for election to Town Meeting to continue serving our community and advocating for appropriate resources for all. As such, clear communication strategies from local government is essential, and I support the efforts to improve communication channels, including investment in communications professionals.