Table of Contents
Preferred contact method:
amanda6lewis@gmail.com
What experiences and perspectives would you contribute to Town Meeting?
During my 28 years of living in Winchester and raising my three kids here, I have a long record of volunteerism. When my kids attended Muraco School, I served as Enrichment Chair (to bring enrichment events to the school) and founded the Muraco Multicultural Fair (a celebratory night of food, student displays, and performances). At Winchester High, I was the Parent Advisor for Class of 2020 (yes, it was a tough last year). I also volunteered with Swim Winchester to bring a community pool to our town, serving as President of that organization. Now I serve as President of Winchester A Better Chance, a 53-year-old nonprofit that provides young men of color with an opportunity to live in Winchester and attend Winchester High School for four years. The ABC scholars contribute tremendously to the life of this town. Being involved with town government is important to me– and a lot of fun. I like talking to others about the issues of the day, seeking their opinions, weighing the pros and cons, and making decisions from a place of integrity and deep respect for all involved.
What are two or three issues facing Winchester that you think are most important and what are your positions on them?
In March, our town will vote on an Override. No one likes paying more in taxes. But this is an important inflection point for Winchester. We need to decide if our schools– the majority of our town's budget– will get what they need in the coming few years or not. Recently– and it saddens me to even write this– our schools have declined. If the schools don't get the funding that they desperately need, everything in town declines. The 5-person Select Board sets the Override amount and, after much debate, came together to support an $11.5 million override. I will talk to others in my Precinct and gather their thoughts, but this amount feels right to me. Other issues that I care about are keeping seniors in town (making sure they don't get priced out) and affordable housing.
What is a special challenge in your precinct that might not be faced in other precincts?
Muraco School. We've been talking about the problems with that building since I moved here almost 30 years ago. It's a wonderful community school and all who attend deserve a better structure.
Why should voters elect you to represent them?
I care about this precinct and this town. I will keep showing up as a volunteer in many capacities as long as I live here. Winchester is a great place to live and I'm committed to keeping it that way.
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