Table of Contents
— How many years have you lived in Winchester?
I have lived in Winchester since 2002. We moved here from an apartment in Brookline with our then 2 year old daughter. We have three children who have gone through Winchester Public Schools (Muraco, McCall, WHS). Our youngest is a junior at WHS.
— Please describe your professional background and education.
I work at the Kennedy School evaluating government programs and communicating key research findings to a broad audience. I have a Bachelor’s degree in political science and economics and a Master’s in public administration.
— What Winchester town positions (appointed or elected) have you held, and for how long?
I have been a Town Meeting member for 12 years.
_ What volunteer roles have you done that made a difference in Winchester?
I was the founding president of Swim Winchester, an all-volunteer effort to build a community pool in Winchester. I’m on the Board of Porchfest, which brings free music to the porches of Winchester every June. I have volunteered in many different capacities for Winchester schools and sports teams.
— Why should I vote for you?
I am passionate about our town, our schools, and our community spaces! I’m a thoughtful and engaged member of Town Meeting. I listen to all of the facts on each issue and vote based on what I hear from town residents, not ideology. I believe in the efficient use of town resources.
Town Meeting candidate-specific questions
— What specific methods will you use to gather and represent your constituents' perspectives on issues that come before Town Meeting?
I spend a lot of time in town – working with various groups, walking my dog, and shopping at local businesses – so I get a lot of feedback. I follow discussions on Facebook as a starting point for finding out what issues are important or extra complicated. When there is something contentious, I make an effort to speak to residents with different opinions to hear their thoughts. I also read and respond to all of the emails I receive on Town Meeting issues.
— Transparency and communication are vital in representative government. What steps will you take to keep your constituents informed about Town Meeting decisions and to explain your voting rationale?
I talk to people in town about Town Meeting issues to help them understand how I vote. When people have concerns about specific issues, I keep them informed by email.
— Town Meeting decides three major things: It sets the salaries for the elected officials, votes to appropriate money to run the town, and votes on the town's local statutes, which are called by-laws. How do you plan to evaluate and make decisions on budgetary allocations to ensure fiscal responsibility while meeting the town's needs?
I rely on FinCom’s guidance since they are experts and review expenditures closely.
