In November 2018 I was honored to be elected as District 1 Councilor to the first term of Amherst’s new Town Council. Creation of the Council marked a historic change for Amherst. One that is still evolving!

I am running for re-election with the central goals of shepherding a new elementary school from design to completion and continuing to use my skills as an economist to address Amherst’s fiscal and growth challenges.

My experience on the Council will provide a strong base to build on as we emerge from the pandemic and look to the future. My co-councilors and fellow committee members have elected me Chair of the Elementary School Building Committee, the Joint Capital Planning Committee, and Vice Chair of the Finance Committee.

My Top Priorities for Action for Amherst’s Future Include:

• Begin building a new elementary school that garners broad support, with a strong educational program and green “net-zero” construction
• Prioritize spending on urgent needs to minimize taxpayer impact
• Ensure that development enhances our downtown, village centers and neighborhoods and provides affordable housing
• Improve support for the community’s quality of life and the environment:
  • Repair roads, repair existing and add new sidewalks, improved/safer intersections
  • Protect open space and farms, and implement energy conservation and climate action priorities.
• Advocate for North Amherst neighborhood concerns: sidewalks, intersections, speed limits, and opportunities to enhance our community

We have a back-log of important capital needs. I support a new fire station and this so far is dependent on finding a place for the Department of Public Works Building.

We must also assure adequate operating budgets for our schools and finding resources for the successful implementation of an alternative to traditional policing, as proposed by the Community Safety Working Group.

The next two years will be critical key for Amherst’s future. If re-elected, I will seek creative solutions and consensus.

I will draw on my experience as a policy analyst and public activist as well as my time on the Town Council. I have been active in debates about zoning and public safety solutions, analysis of the Town’s budget, keeping voting polls open, and enacting bylaws.

As Councilor, I will work to sustain and enhance the quality of life and diversity that makes Amherst such a special place. Success will depend on a Council that values transparency, accountability, fiscal responsibility, and open-minded councilors.

I have skills and expertise that fit well with the Town’s need for careful analysis, and creative, affordable approaches to moving forward. Trained as an economist, I have more than forty-five years of experience working on pressing public concerns, with in-depth knowledge of health insurance and public finance. I have the ability to analyze complex issues and find paths forward that address concerns,

Amherst has been my home for more than 40 years and given much to my family. To give back, I commit to listen, weigh choices, and continue be a strong independent, progressive voice for residents of District 1 and all of Amherst.

I am honored to have been endorsed by the Sierra Club in 2019, for my ideas for and commitment to energy initiatives in Amherst.