Precinct: 4
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.
I grew up in Las Vegas and have lived in Lexington for 24 years. My husband is from Lexington, and it was important to him that we raise our children here. Not just for the excellent schools, but for the sense of community lacking in many other places. Once we moved here, I quickly learned how right he was.
I have three grown children who attended Lexington Public Schools K-12 and they are now in college, working, and in law school. When my oldest was born, I stepped back from my career as a public high school history teacher to be a stay at home parent. PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization) leadership roles led me to being a Town Meeting member starting in 2014. In 2017, I joined the School Committee, serving as the chair from 2020-2022.
Apart from Lexington civic life, my great love is genealogy. If you need someone to explain how not one name was changed at Ellis Island or what a third cousin once removed is, I’m at your service.
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?
Serving as a Town Meeting member for 9 years and as a School Committee member for 7 years is excellent preparation for the challenges of a 10th year in Town Meeting. There is a steep learning curve in navigating the complex world of zoning regulations, proposed by-laws, and appropriations of funds both large and (relatively) small. Over the years, I’ve learned that it is not enough to study the issues – a Town Meeting member must come to the table with an open mind. We are incredibly fortunate to have a dedicated and informed group of citizens willing to serve in Town Meeting. You might feel that your arguments in favor an article are strong, but in every session my colleagues ask excellent questions that have not occurred to me. We function best in Town Meeting when we truly listen to one another.
What is the most important issue in this election to you personally, and what ideas do you have about how to address this issue?
The warrant is full of so many important issues. It’s hard to pick just one – affordable housing, sustainability, trees, the high school project – they are all crucial to what kind of Lexington we want for the future. As I struggled with which one could be the most significant issue in this election, I realized that more important than any individual article is the election itself. Voting and participating in *all* elections is essential for a functioning democracy. National, state, and local elections all matter. Lexington has a voter participation rate in presidential elections that would be the envy of many other communities. And yet, when it comes to our local elections we are lucky to have 20% of voters participate.
We all have a part to play in addressing low voter turnout:
• Make a plan to vote in each and every election. If you vote in every election, even in ones with what seem like low stakes, you will never miss a vital one.
• Research candidates and become active in the campaign process. Put up a yard sign, attend a coffee, or even host a coffee.
• Encourage family and friends to vote. Sometimes all people need is a gentle reminder to vote.
• Get involved with organizations that support voter access. That support can take the form of donations, advocacy, or helping get people to the polls.
• Consider running for office yourself.
It’s common for voters to think only the “big” elections for president, governor, and Congress matter. But our state legislators and local officials make decisions that impact our daily lives. Town Meeting members debate zoning rules, approve spending, and make change to bylaws. We need to change our approach to elections and realize that they are all “big” ones.
As School Committee member, contract negotiations with our union are an ongoing part of the job. We are very fortunate to have passionate and dedicated teachers and administrators who work together every day in the shared goal of giving our students the best education possible. However, the nature of negotiations means that the School Committee and administrators can find themselves with opposing views to those on the other side of the table on contractual matters.
I’ve learned how important it is to focus on what brings us together and being open to alternatives. If you can take a step back and remind yourself that you working toward a common goal, those alternatives you didn’t initially see can present themselves. I’ve also learned how important it is to be able to turn the page when you do come to an agreement and not dwell on any negative feelings that can be unavoidable during stressful situations. You need to celebrate that successful collaboration and look forward to meeting new challenges together.
Many years ago as a high school student in Las Vegas, I learned about the Battle of Lexington in my U.S. history class. I can vividly recall sitting in class thinking that kids who live in Lexington are so lucky — you could just go to the place where the actual battle took place and stand where the British soldiers and Lexington militia stood. If you had told 16 year me that someday I would find myself living in Lexington and being a part of the proud tradition of Town Meeting I wouldn’t have believed it. I’m now one of the lucky people with the privilege of living in a town with such a rich history, and I never take that for granted. I hope to have your vote to continue serving as a Town Meeting member representing Precinct 4.