I am running for Town Meeting Member for Precinct 7 because I would like to add my voice to advocate for issues that are important to my precinct and to Winchester. I have lived in Winchester for over 10 years and have been a member (and former chair) of the Town's Finance Committee as well as a volunteer at McCall Middle and Ambrose Elementary Schools, where my children are in first and seventh grades.

Some of the important issues facing Winchester include the following:

     •        Balancing the Town’s budget without requiring yearly overrides that raise residents’ taxes

     •        Improved long-term planning of expenses – for example those related to rapidly rising special education costs, Town capital needs to maintain its assets, plus long-term obligations such as Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB)

     •        Improving the timing and content provided to Town Meeting Members about Warrant Articles

The Town’s finances have been my concern for the past several years, so maintaining a balanced budget is my personal priority. I recommend the following:

     •        Limiting new positions unless absolutely necessary

     •        Demanding a multi-year financial plan from our elected boards on how to meet rapidly increasing expenses, such as Special Education and retirement liabilities (i.e., other post-employment benefits or “OPEB”)

     •        Prioritizing the preservation of the Town’s AAA bond rating

Winchester is an amazing place to live. It is a beautiful, safe place and offers a solid primary and secondary education (that my children are enjoying), a great library (that my whole family uses), and a strong community of Town administrators and volunteers.

Winchester can improve its long-term financial planning. If we collectively set priorities and holistically view all ways to increase revenue and decrease expenses, the Town will be in a more financially secure position and would not stand to jeopardize its AAA credit rating.

I do not support the recommendations of the Communications Study that a written communications plan be prepared and that a Town Communications Manager be appointed by FY2025. The Communications Study did a great job uncovering specific ways to improve communications in Winchester. Now the burden is on the Town Manager and the Select Board to support the objective of improved communications and demand it from Town departments and committees. No additional funding should be required to develop a plan or to hire more staff. If communication is a shared priority, then additional staffing would not be needed, as existing staff could be required to summarize relevant items weekly or monthly to be shared with constituents. Also, the Town has residents who are skilled in marketing and communication who could be tapped on a volunteer basis to accomplish the stated goals for a Town Communications Manager.