from LWV:

Please list your Community Activities: 

• Finance Committee Member, 2022 – 2025

• Energy Management Committee, Finance Committee Representative, 2022 - 2025

• Ambrose Elementary Volunteer, 2018 – 2020

  • • Art Displays

    • Halloween Set-up

    • Holiday Party

• ENKA Fair Volunteer, 2022

• Youth / Teens Fitness Coach, 2021 – Present

• Adult CrossFit Coach, 2021 – Present

What Winchester issues do you think are most important?

Sufficient revenue is important for ensuring that current Town assets are properly maintained long-term and that new projects (i.e. schools) are adequately funded ahead of time.

Keeping pace with the Housing Production Plan ensures that the Town maintains Safe Harbor under Chapter 40B (a Massachusetts State Statute), thereby avoiding potential hostile developments.

Maintaining a safe pedestrian environment is a key element for the enjoyment of Winchester’s best attributes and the health of all residents.

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

Unfortunately, the Town is under-capitalized. Continual property tax increases and overrides are not a sustainable long-term solution to this problem, particularly for elderly property owners or anyone on a fixed income. 

It is critical that we find new ways the Town can generate additional revenues, despite our limited commercial base. Unfortunately, there is no single solution. We need a multi-faceted approach.

What does Winchester do well and what might be improved?

Winchester enjoys high property values, picturesque historic homes and parks, an appealing town center, low crime rate, and a friendly culture. There is a fairly high level of civic engagement. The schools are touted as excellent. 

The adoption of a comprehensive long-term capital planning process is essential. We need to be looking farther down the road financially, so that repairs, upgrades (including unexpected retrofits), new projects, and general maintenance on existing assets are never delayed or underfunded.   

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?  

We should seek to optimize all aspects of technology and manpower we already have before creating a new position. Many aspects of the recommendations can also be outsourced on a project basis, if needed.