In the eight years that I have served on the Planning Board, I have declined to endorse candidates in town elections, reasoning that I would need to work with whomever the town elected, and that my opinion was no better than anyone else’s.
This year I am actively endorsing Leo Blair for election to the Board of Selectmen.
As it currently stands, the Board of Selectmen has no breadth in perspectives; as a result it is dysfunctional in serving the town. As Leo said recently, “these [candidates] are all good people”—and they are, as the existing board members are good people. This election, it is not about the person that we need to elect, but the diversity that we need to create.
At the Planning Board we have found that the person least like the existing members is the one we need most: they add the most new ideas, the newest way to look at an issue; they pay attention to what others might miss. Similarly, Leo would bring a different perspective and a flexible and creative way of looking at problems that the BOS sorely needs.
Working with Leo over the past year, I can say that he shows patience, listens respectfully to others’ opinions, has the flexibility to change his mind, and at the same time has an uncanny ability to get to the heart of an issue and often find the simplest and most direct route to a solution.
There are many issues facing the town that, over the years, have graduated from important to urgent, and they are all within the purview of the Board of Selectmen: school funding; Devens; affordable housing; preserving our community—including long-term residents.
We cannot afford the polarity that has existed in the past; we have to move forward with solutions. We are very lucky that someone with Leo’s abilities is willing to run for this position. I urge voters to take full advantage of the offer.
Mary Essary
Stow Road
