Table of Contents
Preferred contact method:
cbstaudt@gmail.com
What experiences and perspectives would you contribute to Town Meeting?
I have lived in Winchester for 16 years raising 2 children in town. In that time, I spent close to a decade as a realtor in town seeing first-hand what drew families to Winchester, what concerns new residents had about the town, and how increasingly difficult it was for first-time homebuyers to afford to buy in Winchester and for long-time residents to stay in town.
I am also a member of the Climate Action Advisory Committee and am deeply committed to the continued implementation of the Town’s Climate Action Plan. Professionally, I work as the Energy Advocate for the Town of Brookline.
I previously served on Town Meeting from 2018-2021 before I stepped down to move abroad with my family for a year. This past fall, I rejoined Town Meeting by caucus.
What are two or three issues facing Winchester that you think are most important and what are your positions on them?
- Responsible climate-friendly approach to aging infrastructure - As our infrastructure in town continues to age and we look to renovate or rebuild certain buildings in town (e.g., Town Hall & Muraco), I am committed to ensuring that Winchester takes advantage of grant and funding opportunities, especially as a Climate Leader community, to decarbonize these buildings.
- Traffic Mitigation/Bike & Pedestrian Safety - When we were house hunting 16 years ago, we wanted to live on a street where our future kids could ride their bikes. The day we looked at our house, two kids were riding their bikes outside and we knew we had found our neighborhood. Today, we still have neighborhood kids riding their bikes outside, but our street, like so many others, has become a hazardous cut-through and it no longer feels safe to be biking on our street. Our children deserve to safely walk and bike to school and play in their neighborhoods.
- Affordable housing near transit and the commercial center - Allowing for more affordable residential units near public transportation and near the town center, together with mixed-use buildings throughout town, will allow more first-time buyers to afford Winchester and more seniors to stay in Winchester. By placing these units near transit routes and commercial spaces, we start to limit the reliance of residents on cars.
What is a special challenge in your precinct that might not be faced in other precincts?
While pedestrian and bike safety is a concern throughout town, Precinct 5 is on the far side of Cambridge Street from the town center. Many Precinct 5 residents are close enough to the center, McCall, and the High School to walk or bike, but may choose not to since it requires crossing Cambridge Street.
Why should voters elect you to represent them?
I have experience on Town Meeting, as a Town volunteer, businesswoman in town, and as a municipal employee in another Massachusetts town. I am passionate about making sure that Winchester remains a town that we can all be proud of and a desirable town for residents who want to move here and residents who want to stay long-term. Thank you for your consideration.
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