Precinct: 8
Tell us a little about yourself. You can include your personal background, family, outside interests that are important to who you are as a person and a candidate.
Things that bring me the most joy are spending time with my family and friends, creating art, and community projects that bring people together around creativity, imagination, and possibilities.
I have been delighted to lead LexSeeHer’s initiative to bring a new monument to Lexington that will recognize women’s economic, political, intellectual, social, and cultural contributions. It will be unveiled on May 15th! It was instructive to go through the approval process — I saw aspects of our Town in a new light, and love that Lexington is making women visible who were otherwise forgotten or erased. I am excited that the stories of Lexington’s 18th century women will be accessible during the 250th Anniversary celebrations.
Though I am someone who isn’t “from Lexington,” I grew up learning about the revolutionary war period, and studied history in college. I remain as grateful to live here as I was when I first moved here, and it is important to me to serve the community I love.
How has your past experience — whether in your professional life, elected office, or as a community leader — prepared you for a role in Town Meeting?
In Town Meeting we are asked to weigh in on a wide range of policy and budget questions that shape our community’s near and distant future. My perspective comes from professional training as an attorney, and through my service: as a Town Meeting Member since 2008; a School Committee member for nine years (beginning in 2009); a PTA President at Hastings Elementary School; a member of the school’s Site-Based School Council; a former member of Lexington Council for the Arts (2013-2019); and a founding member of the Lexington Community Coalition. I was an Events Co-Chair for Lexington’s 300th Anniversary Town Celebration Committee. A favorite event was establishing the 8th grade Mock Town Meeting, which continues to this day.
Each of these experiences has given me the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with new people. I’ve met residents and staff with a wide range of interests and areas of expertise. I’ve heard about different challenges that people face, and seen how the town’s budget and policy choices impact people. These insights help me make better decisions in Town Meeting.
What is the most important issue in this election to you personally, and what ideas do you have about how to address this issue?
Civic engagement is the issue I consider most critical today. We have many expensive obligations in our operating and capital budgets — including a new and needed high school project. Residents who are not engaged with local government may be surprised by the extent of work our community must take on in the coming years. Whether you are passionate about public education, solar panels, the library, or noise by-laws, it is important that all community members know they have some power in shaping the way these services are funded and implemented.
I believe we have many talented, compassionate, thoughtful, and well-informed volunteers who put in long hours to help make excellent decisions. But, there are so many people living here who do not come out for local elections. I remain interested in seeing how we can encourage people to vote in local elections, attend public meetings, learn from the Citizens Academy, serve on committees, and perhaps one day raise their hand to participate in Town Meeting.
Mock Town Meeting has been an interesting way to engage 8th grade students. I wonder if we might have some version of this project for adults in the community so they could “test drive” how it feels to be a Town Meeting member. I grew up in a city, where I knew only one person engaged in civic leadership. I am grateful to live in Lexington, where it is possible to move here and find your way to become part of the decision-making process of a dynamic (and singularly historic!) town. I believe representative Town Meeting offers us an amazing slice of democracy. The more people we can engage, the better.
After the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, some friends and I organized a gathering at Emery Park. As a follow-up, I worked with students to organize “Living Room Conversations” at Cary Library. I reached out to gun rights activists to ask if they would join in conversation. I remain grateful that several agreed.
One of the most stimulating aspects of serving on School Committee for nine years was the many opportunities to work closely as five members with distinct perspectives, plus school leadership and parents. More often than not, we found consensus. I had a strong desire to see our Policy Manual go through a full review. We hired a consultant from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees who helped us break down the manual into sections. We carefully reviewed every single policy, held open hearings where any member of the community could share their views – including school staff. It took about two years, and there were some policies that were quite contentious. For example, the Homework Policy! However, we were able to collaborate as a group and process the entire set of policies. I remain proud of our work.
I ask for residents in Precinct 8 to please vote for me. I would appreciate the chance to continue serving in Town Meeting. If you have questions for me, or perspective you wish to share on any issues, please email me at jess@shininghours.com.