Precinct: 5
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 17 years. My husband and I have one son, who is a student at Clarke Middle School. We enjoy living close to the Minuteman Bikeway, which connects us to the Town Center, to various conservation areas in Lexington, and to surrounding communities. I am a clinical social worker by training and currently work for a church, where I direct family programs and oversee communications. My other interests include walking, biking, choral singing, theater, and social justice activism.
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 served for one term as a Town Meeting Member, during which time I have represented my precinct on the Town Meeting Member Association executive committee. For the past year, I have served as the Vice Chair of TMMA. I am also a member of the Clarke Green Team, LexSeeHer’s Unveiling Ceremony Core Team, and Lexington Residents Reimagining Public Safety (LRRPS). I am a group facilitator for the Dyslexia Parents Group of Lexington, a subgroup of LexSEPTA. I am also a facilitator for Dismantling Racism in Our Town. Through all of these volunteer efforts, I seek to participate and make a difference in my local community.
What is the most important issue in this election to you personally, and what ideas do you have about how to address this issue?
I believe that increasing the diversity and amount of housing in Lexington is vital to our community and to our region. We took important steps in 2023 by passing zoning articles that encourage a variety of development, including mixed-use building and denser housing, and by creating the Affordable Housing Trust. I look forward to considering the articles on the 2024 Warrant that address development. I know that Town Meeting Members do not all share the same perspectives on development, but I have witnessed how we engage thoughtfully and respectfully with each other, even as passions run high. I have confidence that we can continue to make sound decisions that reflect our love for our history, our priorities for excellent town services, and our commitment to being a welcoming community that embraces all kinds of diversity.
As a social worker, I am trained to help people listen and communicate with each other to solve problems. I have used my skills in a variety of settings, both professionally and personally. Collaboration with someone who holds an opposing view on a key issue usually means finding common ground on small parts of the problem. This may feel less than satisfactory in the short term, but it’s important to recognize that while the work may be slow-going, it’s crucial that we not give up on our commitment to our values and our vision.