Dan O'Neil to run for Selectman

Dear Editor,

                I would like to announce that I will be running for the Board of Selectman and to reach out to your readership. I am a life long Dedham resident. I've written a few letters in the patch and an occasional blog entry not only to express my opinions, but to also get people thinking about the town and what our goals and needs are and should be as we continue to grow as a community. 

                First off I would like to thank Sarah MacDonald and Paul Reynolds for there service to our town. I have only met them a handful of times, but always found them to be respectful and courteous. I wish them well in there future endeavors.

                I would like to tell you a little about myself.  As I said I’m a life long resident of Dedham specifically East Dedham. My family lineage goes back to the humble beginnings of our town. I’m a direct descendant of Jonathan Fairbanks. As a boy,  before her passing my Great Grandmother used to take me to the annual reunion of Fairbanks descendants that takes place at the Fairbanks House in August.

I’m a graduate of Dedham High School class of 1990 and I received my Associates Degree in Paralegal Studies from Mass Bay Community College class of 2000. I also played on the Baseball team at the College during my time there. Since 2001 I have worked for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services in Human Resources. I am currently the Personnel/Payroll Supervisor at The Lemuel Shattuck Hospital in Jamaica Plain.

                I’ve been very involved in some of the town programs. I founded the Challenger Basketball league with the help of our terrific Parks and Recreation Department and the great folks at Dedham Youth Basketball 6 years ago. It has since gone through some changes and is now run by the Pathfinders program, the special needs department within Parks and Recreation.  The program is still going strong and is probably one of the things I’ve done in life I’m most proud of. These kids get the opportunity to learn teamwork and get out and play. Something that wasn’t offered to children with special needs in the past.  I’ve also coached for St. Mary’s CYO Basketball program for 6 years coaching mostly High School aged boys. This is was one of the best experiences of my life.

                On to what I think we need.  I will mention a few things I think we do need. Well this one has had the tires kicked on it pretty regularly, but we need a senior center. The seniors deserve it and we need to deliver.  I know that the old Ames School came up during town meeting when the Rustcraft proposal was voted on.  It certainly would be assessable to the seniors and I would definitely support a measure that could do that. I also think the town needs a civic center. I had brought this suggestion to the board before they made the proposal at town meeting, but I think by the time I had contacted them they were already pretty far into their plans. I feel a civic center could really benefit the community and it can create something else we need, another stream of revenue for the town.

                In closing I’d like to say that I look forward to getting out and meeting folks all around Town. I want to hear everyone’s concerns and ideas and to share mine with you.  I will provide more info about my campaign in the coming weeks. I would love the opportunity to serve the Town of Dedham and will do everything I can to earn your trust and to earn your vote.

Thank you very much,

Dan O’Neil