EXAMPLE BALLOT FOR
ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION
TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2010
For further information contact the Town Clerk's office at:
(508-647-6430): E-mail: omaloney@natickma.org www.natickma.gov
CANDIDATES FACE OFF
IN NATICK SCHOOL COMMITTEE DEABATE
Charlie Breitrose: staff MetroWest Daily News Feb 26, 2010
NATICK — Five candidates vying for the three spots on the School Committee debated last night at the Natick Forever forum at the Morse Institute Library. Incumbents Anne Blanchard, Anne Zernicke and Dave Murphy seek a second term on the board, while challengers Dylan Hayre and Mark Schultz seek a seat for the first time at the March 30 election.
Schultz said he often thinks outside of the box, and he took a different stance from the others regarding the high school project. He said he believes it is unfair for the town to get millions of state tax dollars to build the school, while other towns do not get the same money.
Others felt that the town should take advantage of the opportunity. Blanchard and Zernicke said the town had earned the money by presenting a quality proposal. Hayre said he would accept any money offered to the schools. Also, Schultz, a research scientist for the Veterans Administration, does not always believe that small classes are good for everyone. "For students at the upper end (small class size) does not make much sense, but for those with lower abilities it makes a big difference," Schultz said. "We should reallocate resources so people who need small classes get them."
The candidates were asked about how they would seek to improve special education. All agreed that the area warrants more attention. Zernicke, who works as a school reading specialist, said she worries that some students who need help may be falling through the cracks. "While we have a great system, a number of students have suddenly been identified as having learning disabilities in high school," Zernicke said. "Maybe we are missing them earlier." A priority for Zernicke would be for the district to use programs that have proven to work to improve and accelerate learning for children of all abilities.
Candidates were asked about what they bring, or would bring to the committee and to identify their weaknesses. Blanchard, a high-tech marketer, said she does not have the same expertise in education as some, but she said she works well with other members. "It has been a pleasure to work with colleagues on the School Committee and bring strengths forward, rather than look at the weaknesses," Blanchard said.
Among her priorities, Blanchard said, is to make sure the program and curriculum are as high quality as the new high school planned to be built in Natick. Hayre serves on the Youth Advisory Board and the Council on Aging, as well as seeking dual graduate degrees at Boston College in law and education. Along with the usual measures of the schools' success - MCAS, AP scores, college acceptances - Hayre said he is also interested in students not heading to college. "If they don't go to college, can they get a job they want to have? Can they be competitive in the marketplace - in the state and across the country?" he asked. He would also like to use technology to reach out to students, including having the police officer assigned to the schools be more visible and have a regular podcast.
Before Murphy had to leave for a prior engagement he gave an opening statement and said he has had a lifelong passion for education. "My parents instilled in me the importance of education and to help kids reach their full potential in school and life," Murphy said.
(Charlie Breitrose can be reached at 508-626-3964 or cbreitro@cnc.com.)
Natick selectmen candidates debate budget strategies
Dealing with a shrinking town budget while trying to keep town services strong will be priorities for the three men running for selectman.
The contenders - Chris Carr, Charlie Hughes and Paul Joseph - appeared in the Natick Forever candidate forum last night at the Morse Institute Library. Two seats are available at the March 30 town election.
In the face of a tight budget and increasing expenses, all three candidates agree they do not want to have a Proposition 2 1/2 override to make up shortfalls.
Hughes wants to spur more development, which he said will help increase the budget and avoid tax hikes.
"We have to be pro-active going forward to encourage business and residential development to add to the tax base, without increase taxes, to pay for services," Hughes said.
Carr said the town should take a hard look at the services provided and see if Natick residents can afford them. He also wants to start the budget process earlier, and have the town administration present a balanced budget at the beginning of the year.
Hughes and Joseph disagreed, saying town officials do not have enough information to make a realistic budget because the first figures from the state do not come out until February.
"The aspiration is good, but it is unrealistic. At that point it is a best guess or fiction," Joseph said. "The people responsible for making the budget must manage individuals and people (they are talking about laying off)."
The candidates differed on whether they believe the town is becoming too expensive to live in, and as a result, is pushing people out. Joseph said the whole Greater Boston area is expensive, and he said he would work to keep the town affordable. Hughes said he believes the town offers a lot of affordable housing, and there are opportunities to build more.
Carr said he has seen some people being priced out of Natick.
"I do think we are pushing people out of Natick," Carr said. "There are a lot of people I went to high school with who can't afford to live in this community."
While he is a relative newcomer, Joseph said as a member of a municipal committee to find new sources of revenue, he has worked to find ways to bring more money into the town budget without raising taxes. He said his work as a consultant and management development helps him to work as a member of a team.
"My experience will bring accountability to the process," Joseph said. "I have walked the talk and invested my time, a lot of time, to make the community better."
Hughes said his three terms as a selectman and his experience as a Finance Committee member will allow him to lead the town through the tough times.
"I have over 20 years experience on the Finance Committee and as a selectman. My experience will lead this town forward," Hughes said. "Every decision I have made on a board, there has been one thing on my mind - is it the best thing for the citizens of Natick?"
Carr said he helped guide the municipal building project to be completed $700,000 under budget in the 1990s. Since then, he has worked in the corporate world and said his financial experience will come in handy when working on Natick's budget.
"Nobody's going to work harder than I will on the budget," Carr said. "I've been here my whole life and I'm not going anywhere. We will out-work our problems and our problem now is money."
(Charlie Breitrose can be reached at 508-626-3964 or cbreitro@cnc.com.)
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The voice that speaks the loudest, in a Democracy such as ours, is the one that comes from the silence of the voting booth.