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 have lived in Lexington for 28 years and was drawn to moving here for its diversity, values, and family-friendly orientation. Our family has two children who attended the public schools K-12 and graduated from Lexington High School. I have a professional background as an educational researcher, so I’ve always been interested in the best approaches to teaching and learning that will prepare students for their futures. I am truly grateful for the excellent education my children received and for the dedicated teachers in LPS. Lexington has been a welcoming community for our family and myself. It was important to me that my children grow up in a community where diversity is embraced and everyone belongs. I not only found acceptance from the broader community but, as an Asian-American, I was also able to connect with a community of people who share my ethnic background. As a Town Meeting member, School Committee member and community resident, I am committed to upholding these shared values in Lexington to ensure that everyone is welcome and belongs.
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?
As a 28-year resident, I have been deeply involved in the town, schools, and cultural life in Lexington. With a professional background in educational research, I actively participated in the schools for over 20 years while my two children attended LPS. In 2016, I was elected to the School Committee where I have served for 8 years. As a School Committee member, I have been responsible for approving the LPS school budget, participated in the Town Budget Summits, worked collaboratively with the Select Board, been a Cary Library Trustee, and served as liaison to various town committees. These experiences have given me a high-level understanding of Town operations and budgeting which informs me as a Town Meeting member. Equally important in guiding me on Town Meeting has been my engagement with the community. From my involvement with a variety of groups and individuals over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to listen to many people and hear their opinions and concerns. I have a long-standing involvement with a diverse set of cultural groups, and have participated in several multi-stakeholder collaborations. All of these experiences helped to prepare me for my role in Town Meeting.
I have found it rewarding to serve on Town Meeting for the last 9 years. In that time, I have gained a deeper understanding of the complexity of issues facing the town and how we must collectively balance priorities for the benefit of our community. It is always enlightening to hear the different viewpoints and opinions expressed by Town Meeting members, and often I find that it informs and enriches my own decision making. The discourse is robust and often complex but the process is essential to arriving at decisions that are in the best interest of our community and the constituents we represent. I am always open to listening to residents and constituents, and I encourage anyone to reach out to me. Overall, I find that being a Town Meeting member gives me a better understanding of the issues we face and makes me a more thoughtful citizen of the town.
Another valuable reason for me to serve on Town Meeting is the synergy it has with my role as a School Committee member. I think that it is very important for School Committee members to also serve on Town Meeting. It is helpful that School Committee members are there when the LPS budget is presented, and we can answer questions and report on positions on school-related articles. More importantly, though, serving on Town Meeting gives School Committee members a broad view of the programmatic, financial, and philosophical issues and tradeoffs that the Town faces. The school department is just one part of the town as a whole, so it is important for us to able to see the schools in that context. I find that being a Town Meeting member gives me a better understanding of the issues and tradeoffs we face as a town and that informs me in my role as a School Committee member.
It is a privilege to serve as a Town Meeting member and I hope to be re-elected for another term. If you live in Precinct 4, I ask that you cast a vote for Eileen Jay for Town Meeting.