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 hold a Ph.D. in Chemistry, and have been a vibrant member of the Lexington community since 2011. I live with my wife, Jaya Vatsyayan, a biotechnology professional with a Ph.D. in Life Science, and our two children, Sujay (LHS 2017) and Janya (LHS 2023).
One of my greatest joys is stepping outside my comfort zone and exploring the musical journey during my leisure time, which nourishes my spirit. I believe dedication, investigation, collaboration, a strong work ethic, and a positive attitude are essential for professional success. These values pave the way for achievement and inspire me to engage in social causes and give back to the community through social service. The importance of making a difference in the community comes through a deep yearning and motivation. Many town issues are intricately connected and can be solved through practical engagement in community affairs. My interest comes from my positive experience, conviction, and love of learning.
Why are you running for Town Meeting?
During a meeting, I was struck by a remark from a candidate running for office in our town: “I drive back home from work to live, not just to sleep.” As a first-generation immigrant and proud resident, those words resonated profoundly with me in 2018. My commitment to giving back to our community and my passion for active engagement fuel my desire to run for Town Meeting. Together, we can foster a vibrant community where everyone truly thrives.
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?
I have been a TMM since 2018. The following aspects helped me prepare for the role of Town Meeting:
1. Active engagement: I have participated actively in various local issues that resonate with my interests and concerns.
2. Thorough preparation: Review and understand the warrant before the meeting begins (Attend an information session or any public hearing). I want to point out that this preparation is crucial for me to make an informed contributor during talks.
3. Interpersonal communication skills: I have focused on developing my interpersonal communication skills. This involves clearly articulating my questions and opinions while respecting the viewpoints of others. By actively listening to diverse perspectives, I have cultivated a collaborative environment that enriches our discussions.
Through my experiences, I have comprehensively learned the town meeting procedures and the basic rules for speaking at meetings and making motions. I plan to further enhance my knowledge and expertise by volunteering for a committee. This initiative will help prepare me to engage in future meetings and contribute effectively to our community’s decision-making processes.
What is the most important issue in this election to you personally, and what ideas do you have about how to address this issue?
Article 34: Amend Section 7.5 of the Zoning Bylaw to Reduce Multi-Family Dwelling Unit Capacity
Article 2 STM-2025-1: Amend Zoning ByLaw and Map multi-family housing for MBTA communities
Article 34 of the 2023 Annual Town Meeting proposed the establishment of an MBTA communities overlay district. I must admit that I did not support this initiative at that time. Unfortunately, I was unable to cast my vote due to a scheduled visit to an admitted student day at a college on the day of voting on Article 34 of the 2023 town meeting. However, this year, I am inclined to support the proposed amendment.
I am aware of the pressing housing shortage in the Boston metropolitan area. In this context, it is essential for Lexington to carve out a unique identity. The Multi-Family Zoning Requirements mandated for MBTA Communities do not seem to significantly improve public transport accessibility.
Currently, the only real connection I observe from Lexington to the nearby commuter rail stations—located in Lincoln, Belmont, Waltham, Winchester, and Woburn—is via private vehicles. This scenario raises concerns: establishing a sizable multi-family housing area in Lexington will inevitably lead to an increase in automobile traffic, which, in turn, contributes to higher emissions and worsens air quality. Unless we actively encourage new residents to transition to electric vehicles, we face the risk of exacerbating our environmental impact.
To foster effective multi-family zoning in conjunction with MBTA communities, it will be crucial to develop strategic plans that enhance connectivity between Lexington and at least two neighboring towns that are also served by commuter rail. This approach will not only serve to benefit our residents through improved access to public transportation but also promote a more sustainable future for our community.
Any collaboration and negotiation begins with the attributes of a patient listener to the problem. The first step I will follow is to separate my constituents from the problem. No blame game!
Secondly, I will focus on my interests and provide a response or report based on thoroughly researched objective criteria, followed by initiating the negotiation.
Lastly, working together is a better solution to create options that would satisfy both parties.
Motivation is a key factor in effectively engaging in community affairs. My interest stems from my positive experiences and my passion for learning. I will participate and assist in any effort to enhance overall community development and save money before any tax increase is requested. With more involved citizens and out-of-the-box thinking, we can keep Lexington vibrant, affordable, especially to the younger generation, and all-inclusive for our children and senior citizens.
While maintaining the highest-quality school system (supporting Bloom design to ensure that our students are equipped for success with fully equipped traditional classrooms designed for dynamic learning that foster a conducive academic excellence environment) and preserving our cherished historical culture, I will continue to serve and assist non-partisans in enhancing overall community development while advocating for saving money before any tax increase is requested. With more involved citizens and out-of-the-box thinking, we can keep Lexington vibrant, affordable, and all-inclusive for our children and senior citizens. My priorities include infrastructure development, commercial satellite centers, and environmentally friendly sustainable development. I am keenly interested in exploring the possibility of increasing dining options through subsidized incubator restaurants.