I am writing to declare my candidacy for Select Board. After serving more than 12 years on the School Committee and various other boards, I have come to appreciate the special nature of Harvard and the complexities of the opportunities and challenges it faces.
The questions facing Harvard residents include: how do we keep our town affordable while improving the services provided, including the excellence of its schools; what is the best path forward to resolving the ultimate jurisdiction and governance of Devens; and what can be done for seniors wanting to downsize and for families for whom the cost of housing is unaffordable while protecting and preserving the charm and open space so cherished by newcomers and longtime residents alike? These questions aren’t new, but they are multifaceted and require many conversations among all stakeholders. As the town’s executive body, the Select Board must take the lead in ensuring these critical discussions take place and produce results, while also empowering and valuing the dozens, if not hundreds of volunteers on our boards and committees who rise to the challenge of doing the vital work that keeps our town running.
Having worked with many of those individuals while chairing the building committee for the new elementary school, I have learned the value of listening, understanding, and respecting the rich history of this town while collaborating to find innovative solutions. Having also served on the Capital Planning and Investment Committee, I am well versed in the competing demands on the financial resources of our town and making difficult decisions to prioritize investments. Working on the Devens Jurisdiction committee has given me a broader perspective on the town, its neighbors, and the growing pressure coming from the state Legislature for towns like Harvard to increase housing options.
I don’t presume to have the answers to these questions, but I have a proven record for working diligently and collaboratively with individuals having diverse opinions in a respectful and transparent manner while achieving results. I promise, if elected, to bring that spirit of workability to tackle the challenges ahead.
SusanMary Redinger
Ayer Road
