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How many years have you lived in Winchester? 11 years. My husband and I currently live in the Muraco neighborhood with our two children, ages eight and four.
Please describe your professional background and education. I have a Master of Public Policy, which is why I find municipal government so interesting. I spent many years working in the education sector, supporting federal, state and local education agencies, particularly in special education and managing K-12 data. Currently, I work with large organizations who are studying their culture and compliance.
What Winchester town positions (appointed or elected) have you held, and for how long? I'm seeking re-election to the select board, which I've served on for three years, two years as the vice chair. I'm also the select board's representative to the Field Management Committee. I am a town meeting member in Precinct 1. Previously, I served on the Personnel Board.
What are the primary issues motivating your candidacy? As a current member of the board, I'm proud of the work we have done together over the past three years and I hope to continue in that capacity for Winchester. I coordinated the process to award nearly $300,000 in ARPA subgrants to community organizations. I've supported traffic and pedestrian improvements, including at Cross & Forest streets, by Children's Own School and around Lynch school. I supported the safety assessment and funding for new playgrounds at Leonard and Macdonald fields, and the purchase of accessible playground equipment with ARPA funding. The select board brought the CPA to town meeting, had it passed by voters and instituted a CPA Bylaw.
Given Winchester's $2.89 million structural deficit, what specific measures would you propose while maintaining essential services? The town is looking at options that involve using free cash or an operating override. Neither is ideal, but in the past few years, the cost of capital projects and services has significantly increased. Town Hall is efficient, and we need to maintain staffing so that we can continue to effectively manage projects and the town. Further, the school system is a critical piece of our infrastructure, and we need to support students and families with high quality teachers and curriculum and support teachers with professional development and classroom supports.
What is your comprehensive vision for affordable housing in Winchester, particularly regarding the 160 Forest Street development? We need to continue to advance both large and small scale affordable housing. Waterfield and Washington and Swanton will add many units to our SHI, but we also need to embrace smaller scale housing, like the nine-unit townhouses on Cross Street or one to two units, like 160 Forest could be. The Affordable Housing Trust is a great partner in affordable housing in Winchester and has expertise that we can rely on for 160 Forest Street and I look forward to engagement with the neighborhood to develop it appropriately.
What specific initiatives would you propose to expand Winchester's commercial tax base and enhance economic development in the town center? I look forward to the MBTA station being fully open and parking returning to Laraway Road. We have upcoming opportunities to promote mixed use development and gain additional commercial business with the Planning Board's zoning changes for North Main Street. The Holton Street area also provides an opportunity for growing development. I believe that the more walkable our commercial businesses are, the better for all of us – foot traffic will draw in customers and people will spend more time in our downtown or newer commercial areas.
Have questions for Brady? Contact her at antheabradywinchester@gmail.com or visit facebook.com/AntheaBradyWinchester
