I'm an Essex resident of over 21 years, drawn by the appeal of a rural lifestyle that is still close to urban amenities. I believe Essex is perfectly situated to take advantage of this unique geographic setting. Professionally, I’m a problem solver for businesses large and small. I quickly assess where and why problems have arisen and propose and implement out-of-the-box solutions. These skills have served me well in diagnosing and resolving a number of Essex challenges in the past seven years, always the result of collaborating with others.
Some may say I have an abrupt and terse personality. I admit it. I try to stay focused on the task at hand, gather facts, consider them and potential actions, giving all a voice, to efficiently arrive at a considered decision. Don't believe me. Ask those I work with on the two Committees I currently serve. I suggest you get to know me in person. Take advantage of the Town Meeting TV Forums. Check out my FaceBook Page for opportunities to connect in person.
My involvement in local politics began with the last Village/Town merger effort. I saw that the proposed plan was not going to actually save taxes. Critical departments were not going to be merged. The Selectboard was controlled by Village residents, and I felt that Town residents outside the Village were not being represented. I successfully advocated for a fair governance model known as the 3+3 to ensure that both parts of Town would have equal representation, as well as the equal taxation being promised by merger proponents.
This charter change ballot question received overwhelming support from the entire Town in March 2020, but unfortunately, the Village government legislature would not include it in their version of the merger charter. Encouraged by Village representatives, the state legislature did not approve 3+3, citing the pending merger vote, which failed twice.
I demonstrated flexibility in responding to resident concerns. Simultaneously, I promoted a proposal called Separate-and-Share, which was immortalized in Irene Wrenner’s “Merger Breath” rendition of a popular Jethro Tull song. I know politics is hard work, but it can also be fun!
S&S would have allowed Town and Village departments to selectively merge only those departments where it made sense, politically and economically, to do so. I recognized the need to preserve identity and adapted.
While my idea didn’t gain traction right away, just two years later, the Village voted to Separate while still sharing the Essex Police Department.
Recently, I teamed up with fellow residents to place two important questions on the annual meeting ballot: 1) to mandate the inclusion of Town employee salaries in the annual report, following the practices of other municipalities, and 2) to require transparency regarding any tax reduction incentives granted to commercial taxpayers. Both initiatives were approved overwhelmingly, underscoring my commitment to government transparency.
This year, I collaborated with a group of six residents to propose a question for the Annual Meeting ballot aimed at reducing the size of our Development Review Board from seven to five members. This change would help to minimize overlap with the Planning Commission. I firmly believe in maintaining a separation of powers; it is unwise for those who draft regulations to simultaneously serve as judges of development applications. I would not approve of related individuals serving on both boards and find the same person serving on both truly problematic.
