I enjoy being involved in the community, and I have volunteered with various groups in town. Most recently, I represented precinct 7 on the Communications Study Committee. I am also on the board of Friends of Winter Pond. I have two children in the Winchester Public Schools, and I have volunteered in various positions related to the schools. 

Some of the issues I care about include an expanded commercial tax base, improved communication to keep residents informed, the schools, and maintaining and protecting the many wonderful natural resources around town. If elected, I would try to improve communication between Town Meeting Members and precinct residents, perhaps through a listserv or similar platform.   

My responses to the League of Women Voter’s questions are below (slightly edited for space). 

Community Activities:

• Town Meeting Communications Study Committee (CSC) 

• Winchester News Group

• Friends of Winter Pond 

• School Improvement Council, Lynch Elementary School 

• Lynch Parent Association, WFEE Liaison 

• WPS Student Success and Wellbeing Research Group 

Most important Winchester issues:

• Communication

• Affordable housing and real estate development

• Taxes and budget: Expanding the commercial tax base and easing the residential tax burden; using limited resources wisely and effectively

• School quality

• Strategic planning: Identifying town-wide priorities and using them to inform policy and spending decisions

Which one do you feel most passionate about, and what is your position on that issue?

Communication. Communication (or lack thereof) has an impact on every other issue. There is a need to increase public awareness of and engagement in town initiatives. Some ideas I support include hiring a communications manager and creating a Town Meeting Members Association. 

I’m also interested in exploring creative ways to expand the commercial tax base and ease the residential tax burden.

What does Winchester do well and what might be improved?

Winchester strengths:

• Schools

• Strong culture of volunteerism

• Strong sense of town pride

• Access to nature (Winter Pond, the Fells, etc.) 

Areas to improve:

• Communication

• Greater variety of businesses 

• Broader commercial tax base

Do you support the Town Meeting Communications Study Committee's recommendations that a written communications plan be prepared and a town communications manager be appointed by FY2025, even if it would involve adding a new full-time position (salary and benefits) to the town budget? If not, what alternative ideas do you suggest? 

I was on the Communications Study Committee, and I support both recommendations with some minor caveats.

• The recommendation as submitted to Town Meeting suggested that the Select Board and town manager prepare a communications plan. While the Select Board and town manager can oversee the effort, I think a communications professional should prepare the communications plan. 

• I think having a full-time communications professional would be ideal and help increase public awareness about town issues and improve communication among our various boards and committees. However, the town has limited resources and many competing priorities. I would want to review the full financial picture when such a hire is discussed. If a full-time position does not seem optimal at that time, I would support hiring someone in a part-time or contractor role to create a communications plan and improve the town website. 

• I think it is also important to keep in mind that, as noted in the CSC recommendations, “failure to communicate effectively may cost the town more—in staff, consultant, and board overtime; missed opportunities; additional referenda; legal challenges; erosion of public trust, etc.—than the cost of a communications manager.” 

I also support the CSC recommendation to establish a Town Meeting Members Association (TMMA) and associated listserv. The TMMA would facilitate dialogue and information exchange among town meeting members and allow residents to submit questions on issues before Town Meeting.