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.
Since moving to Lexington in 1994, I have greatly enjoyed the sense of community, the wonderful open spaces and the variety of events and activities in our unique and special town. My kids attended Lexington Public Schools from K–12, and throughout that period, I volunteered with LUSC (youth soccer). I belong to Temple Isaiah and am also an active member and volunteer in a community of Shinnyo-en Buddhist practitioners, a worldwide order that originated in Japan.
After hearing political attacks on immigrants, I volunteered as an ESL teacher. As a naturalized citizen myself, I strongly identify with people who have come to this country seeking a better life. I participated in Dismantling Racism in Our Town, LexChat and other forums to better understand the impacts of racism in our town.
I am an enthusiastic member of the Lexington Pickleball Club and would love to see some additional Pickleball courts built.
Why are you running for Town Meeting?
Now that my kids have graduated, I’d like to give back to the Town that has been my home these past decades. Lexington is a wonderful place to live and we must carefully balance diverse priorities: stabilizing housing development while adhering to the MBTA Communities Act, rebuilding our aging high school, addressing and adapting to climate change, preserving our historic sites and cherished open spaces, advancing equity, and fostering economic growth.
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?
Throughout my career, I have held various engineering and management roles in the high-tech industry. I hold degrees in psychology and computer science, and returned to school mid-career, while working full-time, to earn an MBA.
My professional ties to Lexington run deep—I co-founded a software company based in Lexington. We developed and market a platform that enables pharmaceutical companies to cost-effectively track serial numbers on medicines. A family member co-owns a thriving consulting firm based in Lexington Center. I care a great deal that Lexington is welcoming to entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes.
My experience has honed my ability to work in teams, both as a leader and a collaborator. I am accustomed to navigating complex issues with multiple stakeholders and approaching decisions holistically, balancing analytical thinking with empathy. When articles come before Town Meeting, I thoroughly prepare for each vote.
Lexington relies on its dedicated municipal employees, boards, and committees. As a Town Meeting member, my role is to listen carefully to subject matter experts and constituent perspectives, then vote in the best interests of the overall community.
As a Town Meeting member, I engage thoughtfully with residents, listen to diverse perspectives, and do my research to make well-informed decisions. When opinions differ from my own, I remain open to discussion, recognizing that respectful dialogue strengthens our community.
I try to respond to every email from constituents on the Precinct 6 email reflector, as these conversations help me understand how residents feel about key issues. When we don’t agree, I explain my reasoning while remaining open to differing perspectives and new information.
When voting, I weigh all viewpoints and act in the Town’s best interest. For example, during the 2023 MBTA Communities Act zoning debate, I supported expanding housing but felt the proposal lacked a full analysis of its impact, leading me to vote ‘no’ after raising key concerns.
What is the most important issue in this election to you personally, and what ideas do you have about how to address this issue?
Every issue before Town Meeting matters to those affected, and this spring, one of the most impactful is addressing the rapid construction following the MBTA Communities zoning (Article 34) enacted in 2023.
Massachusetts faces a housing crisis that limits economic growth. The MBTA Communities Act aims to help by promoting mostly market-rate housing (with only 15% affordable units in our case). While I support the cause of affordable housing, I could not support Article 34 as written. The required percentage of affordable units was not high enough. More importantly, proponents did not adequately analyze the zoning changes’ impact on traffic, public transportation, parking, water, sewer, trash and recycling, electric grid, cable/internet, recreation, police, fire department, social services, municipal revenue and expenditures, property taxes (commercial and residential), rents, real estate prices, climate impact and environmental impact (for example: habitats). As a Town Meeting Member, I believe it’s my duty to ask pertinent questions and ensure informed decisions—I raised these questions prior to the vote. Proponents of by-right multi-family housing development still haven’t adequately addressed these concerns.
This spring, Town Meeting will once again consider MBTA zoning with Article 2, a citizen’s petition to amend the Zoning Bylaw by reducing Multi-Family Overlay districts and limiting dwelling units. It’s a crucial opportunity to slow development and study the effects of MBTA zoning before further construction proceeds.
If re-elected, I will continue to ask critical questions, carefully consider the impact of each article, and work to balance Lexington’s need for housing with responsible growth and community well-being.
Lexington’s strong financial management is the foundation of our town’s success. I support responsible budgeting that balances prudence with the necessary investment in repairs, maintenance, and upgrades to sustain the town’s high level of services.
I am a consistent supporter of policies that address and adapt to climate change. Lexington’s walking trails and recreational spaces are vital to our community, and I advocate for continued investment in them. I also believe we need to strengthen our tree bylaws to better protect our neighborhoods and climate.
Lexington is preparing to vote on a debt exclusion for the construction of a new high school —the largest project in the town’s history. I want to share my position on this critical issue to ensure voters clearly understand where I stand.
As a Town, we face a critical choice: invest in a new high school for future generations or continue pouring resources into a 75-year-old building that is overcrowded, outdated, and costly to maintain. No plan can satisfy everyone. The Bloom plan offers a practical solution, ensuring a modern, secure, and sustainable learning environment.
The current high school is deteriorating, with an HVAC system at risk of failure—estimated at $250-300 million to update. Renovation would trigger expensive code upgrades without solving key issues like inadequate science labs, small classrooms, and lack of ADA compliance. The open campus design also poses serious security risks, making it nearly impossible to lock down in an emergency.
A staged renovation was considered but rejected by Town Meeting (STM-2024-8) in an 11-157 vote with eight abstentions as more expensive, time-consuming, and insufficient to address the building’s flaws. In contrast, the Bloom plan—developed through public hearings and Town committee reviews—provides a cost-effective (relative to “staged”), comprehensive solution.
I understand concerns about tax increases, especially for retirees. Programs do exist to help some low-income households manage these costs. The alternative to the Bloom plan —spending hundreds of millions to patch an outdated, non-compliant school—is simply not a prudent path forward.
While the Bloom plan may not be perfect, it delivers a modern, energy-efficient, and secure school that meets today’s educational and safety standards. The Lexington school system is a magnet that draws people to our town. Investing in this plan supports Lexington’s long-term prosperity by attracting new families, protecting home values, and ensuring our town’s children learn in a safe, functionally supportive environment.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent precinct 6 in Town Meeting. No matter who you support, I encourage you to vote on March 3rd!