Why running for The Board Of Selectman is so important to me

   I was sitting at home tonight and I thought about why I wanted to run for selectman and it made me think about my great grandmother, Grace Cassavant. She taught me a lot about history as a boy and my family history and a lot of who I am is because of her. She was our families historian. I learned a lot about my families history from her and I spent a lot of time with her growing up. She passed away in 1994 at the ripe old age of 99. She was a few months shy of 100. At the time of her passing my parents had separated and we had never connected again before she passed and I really regretted that. 
   I've accomplished a lot of things and seen some places and I probably had more opportunities than I ever imagined I would have. That being said this is the 20th anniversary of her passing so I decided I wanted to run in honor of her memory. The Town of Dedham is part of my heritage and part of who I am. I have a connection to this town a lot of others don't have. I care about this town much like I care about the hospital I work at. The Lemuel Shattuck Hospital is also named for an ancestor of mine. Grace's great grandfather. Her maiden name was Shattuck. 
   I want the chance to make my own history here in town and help to make our town better. In an 8 year span we built two new schools, we fixed up the football field, Legacy Place came in along with a lot of new infrastructure on route one and we also completed the square project. We've made a lot of progress and progress is good. Even small towns like ours naturally need progress. The problem as I see it is even with all the funding and more revenue our citizens are still paying a lot of property tax. I want to spearhead solution to this problem. In some ways I think some of the newer residents that have moved here want Dedham to be something it simply isn't like a Wellesley or a Needham or another affluent town. We do have wealthy folks living here and we also have many people who are well off, but the crux of our community are blue collar people. That's what we are and that's what Dedham is. On the same token we have older residents who don't want to change Dedham at all. I think he best median is progress and change that makes sense and helps us to be the best Dedham we can be instead of trying to be something we aren't. I personally love the small town feel and charm of this lovely town.
   I walked around my precinct to get the necessary signatures to get on the ballot officially. My neighbors echoed the same things the high property taxes and the need for a senior center. One day we'll all be seniors and when I'm there in another 20-25 years I'd like to be able to say I can go to the Dedham Senior Center. We can learn so much from our seniors. They deserve a senior center and it would be an honor and a privilege to be a member of the board that makes that a reality.
   It was brought to my attention that William Keegan has been selected to be the new Town Manager in Foxboro. Over the years I've admittedly been critical of Mr. Keegan. Overall I think he did a good job. The problem I had with him is he was not a Dedham resident and he did not understand the taxpayers that live here nor did he share our perspective. The charter was initially written so that the town administrator would live in Dedham. It was written that way so that the administrator would be a fellow stake holder in the town. This hire also sent the message that we didn't have one qualified candidate within our town limits which I completely disagree with. We have a wealth of intelligent, creative people living here. If elected I will make it my mission to ensure we either hire or promote a Dedham resident.
   I feel there is so much more we could be doing for our town and our fellow residents and neighbors. I did student government day back in 1990, the year I graduated and I chose the Board of Selectman and I remember sitting in one of those seats and thinking someday wouldn't this be cool. Well the time is now for me to try. I love this town. I have deep roots and a true stake in our town. Together we can be the best Dedham we can be. I would really appreciate one of your two votes on April 12th. Thank you so very much.