As someone who has led a number of projects in town to successful conclusion, including the town center sewer project, I believe broad consensus on an issue is necessary to build a robust solution that the community can embrace. To do this you need:
- An open-minded approach to issues.
- A willingness to listen to and empathize with concerns to shape better solutions
- The patience, humility, and commitment to stick with something through the years it often takes to inform the public, debate the options, and arrive at a reasonable solution the community can rally behind.
These are exactly the qualities Ken brings to the table, as demonstrated by his track record of accomplishment and longtime service in both Bolton and Harvard. His experience in town government will allow him to hit the ground running, while his service in another community gives him a fresh perspective.
In my volunteer service, I have also come to believe that much of the divisiveness in our community is due to the “protagonists” on our boards and committees who vigorously champion specific views and outcomes. Open-minded exploration of solutions and deference to the will of the community are often a threat to their objectives. Ironically, this approach does a disservice to the very issues they champion because they fail to build a robust consensus and settle for narrow, fragile victories.
The fact that almost all of Ken’s articles on zoning, schools, farm and historic preservation have passed by vast majorities speaks to his approach to problem solving and his ability to build consensus.
As a political moderate, Ken may frustrate both the “us”s and “them”s on either end of the political spectrum. He won’t be consulting with “his people” on issues but listening to the needs and concerns of the broader community. Ken can help us steer around the mire and keep us focused on the solid common ground we all share as we move forward. Isn’t that what Harvard needs in a selectman?
Chris Ashley
Woodside Road
