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’m a retired software engineer and I have represented Precinct 3 in Town Meeting since 2007. My family moved to Lexington in 1994, and we have enjoyed living here for 30 years. My wife and I started a family foundation in 2002 and we have been providing grants to arts and education organizations in Greater Boston ever since. I am currently the Chair of the Town’s Appropriation Committee, which advises Town Meeting on financial matters. I enjoy photography, hiking and kayaking.
Why are you running for Town Meeting?
I like participating directly in the governance of our town, and it helps me stay informed about what is going on, while connecting me with other people who care about the town. I hope that I can contribute to the transparency and accountability of our local government.
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?
At this point I have been in Lexington’s Town Meeting for 18 years, and I have seen it evolve from a strictly in-person experience with lots of printed documents into a hybrid virtual experience with fully online documentation and videos. My experience on the Appropriation Committee has taught me a great deal about how town finances work, and part of the committee’s job is to help explain it all clearly to other Town Meeting Members.
What is the most important issue in this election to you personally, and what ideas do you have about how to address this issue?
My goal is to ensure that Lexington is a responsive and responsible community on the issues of climate change, affordable housing, and public education.
I truly appreciate when someone takes the time to contact me directly and share their views. I try to acknowledge every email and I pay attention to the opinions of my constituents. On occasion I have met with residents to discuss their concerns in person. I also value the information shared by our professional Town staff. I consider all of this in light of my own experiences when voting at Town Meeting.