After careful and detailed consideration complete with multiple discussions and fact-finding efforts specific to her experience, positions, and ideas, I am compelled to fully support Ms. Angeline Ellison for the 1-year selectman’s seat. Ms. Ellison's experience on the School Committee over the last few years, along with her professional and educational background provide a solid foundation for transitioning into the responsibilities associated with the Board of Selectmen. Equally, her character and integrity are immediately evident to those taking the opportunity of engaging her; these are critical components of leadership.
Angie's regular attendance at Annual Town Meetings and participation in local elections demonstrates a core commitment to our community and an understanding of the unique responsibility associated with the legislative branch of local government - the voters at Town Meeting - and the vital role they play in our town's decision making process. Conversely, though offering experience in the business field, her opponent's lack of attendance at any Town Meetings and his lack of participation (i.e. voting) in any local election - since moving here in 2006 (verified via public records), added to his lack of previous service on any committee within the community, create for me, an experience void that is simply too great and too significant.
Understanding the basics of our governmental process - unique in that we exercise nearly all governmental decisions through Town Meeting and not the Board of Selectmen, is vital in properly carrying out the executive duties assigned to the Board under the Town Charter. In addition, a basic understanding of the roles of other committees for whom the Board of Selectmen have final appointing authority is crucial to one's ability to properly execute the role of selectman. So too, is an understanding of the Finance Committee's role in our Town Meeting form of government. For these reasons, though her opponent is a thoughtful and intelligent individual, I believe he may have "skipped some steps" (in the words of one individual), by failing to gain the requisite core knowledge that one would have gained from participating at Town Meeting and local elections.
To be sure, I applaud Mr. Esposito for his willingness to answer the call of his party as they actively sought a candidate to oppose Ms. Ellison, thus ensuring there would be no unopposed seat. Having choices is an integral part of our democratic process and it serves the greater good when seats are contested. That said, it is unfortunate that the party encouraged him to enter the race at the last minute through the caucus process and did not instead choose to consider or recommend that he step back and spend the next year becoming more engaged in, and knowledgeable about local government. Taking such a path would provide him the opportunity to experience and participate in at least two Town Meetings (1 annual, 1 special), as well as participating in one local election prior to the 2012 election process.
Equally, he would have had the time to perhaps volunteer for a committee wherein he could have better prepared himself for the challenges associated with the Open Meeting Law, the Conflict of Interest Law, the Public Records Law, as well as the Town Charter, Zoning Bylaws, and General bylaws. Basic fundamental knowledge and experience with these laws provide for a more informed and more effective selectman. This approach would provide a broader foundation for undertaking the role of an elected official. I know that from my own personal experience, the responsibilities associated with the role of selectman were much easier shouldered as a result of my service on the Planning Board. Additionally, that experience provided me with the knowledge and background necessary to confidently and effectively engage the deliberative process in a more detailed manner.
Angeline Ellison has gained an important understanding of the legislative process within our community through attendance at Town Meetings and frequent participation in local elections. Additionally, as a member of the Tantasqua and Burgess School Committees, she has gained the experience necessary to better function within the parameters of the state and local laws that dictate the process for public officials. In considering the experience differential between the two candidates, as well as Ms. Ellison’s understanding of the role of a selectman, I believe her to be the best candidate to immediately engage the challenges facing our community and to confidently deliberate and decide matters on behalf of us residents.
Information about Angeline Ellison can be found at www.angelineellison.com.
NOTE: As a resident, (when I write, I do so within my purview and privilege as a resident) I have reached out to Mr. Esposito on several occasions over the last few weeks hoping to have a conversation with him in terms of his candidacy and the issues facing our community, just as I have nearly every other candidate. Unfortunately, due to the demands of his career, he has been unable to find the available time to engage in conversation and that is understandable. It would have been my preference as a resident, to gain some deeper insights and offer some thoughts for response from Mr. Esposito but one recognizes the demands of career and family. Absent that, I was provided more time to better research and engage Ms. Ellison and in so doing, I became absolutely convinced of her ability to address challenges with meaningful solutions and equally convinced of her commitment to our community. For me, as a responsible American and Republican, it is not merely enough to vote for someone simply because they originate from the same political party that I do; there is and should be, a great deal more to it than that.
