The following information was submitted by Jennifer Susse, a member of the School Committee, who is writing as a town voter:
There is less than a week until Arlington’s Town Election this Saturday, April 7. As I’ve previously mentioned I am enthusiastically supporting Joe Curro and John Hurd for Selectmen. Today I received a message from the other candidate in the race mentioning Hurd’s sometimes ‘halting delivery’ at the debate.
I am also not a natural public speaker. The first day I taught at the University level I was shaking so hard that my students kindly came over to comfort me. I have since become more familiar with public speaking, and I suspect John will as well.
What is more important is the values that these candidates espouse, and how they will vote. John Hurd and Joe Curro were very strong supporters of the Mass. Ave. Corridor Project, very strong supporters of the Community Preservation Act, and very strong supporters of the upcoming ballot question to make the Town Treasurer an appointed position.
Of the two candidates who were in Town Meeting in 2015 (Joe and Michael) only Joe Curro voted against Stephen Harrington’s amendment to cut One Million dollars from the Arlington School budget (Harrington objected to our setting aside money during a contract negotiation to give much deserved raises to teachers).
For these reasons, and many more, I hope you will join me on Saturday, April 7, in voting for Joe Curro and John Hurd.
On the ballot question I am voting YES. Last year, by a nearly 3-to-1 margin, Town Meeting voted to include a ballot question at the 2018 Annual Election to convert the position of Treasurer and Collector of Taxes to an appointed position.
It does seem paradoxical that taking this decision away from voters will make the position more accountable rather than less. Here is why:
The issues that a treasurer deals with are increasingly complex; much more complex than the average voter (including me) can understand. It is hard for a non professional to know whether the person is doing a good job or not.
An elected official is only responsible to the voters once every three years. A professional reporting to the Town Manager is accountable every day. If that person were to make a serious mistake, or refuse to coordinate with other Town departments, he or she can be fired.
Nearly 85% of all Massachusetts communities with populations greater than 10,000 (we have more than 43,000) and with budgets and average single family tax bills above the state median have transitioned to appointed treasurers and tax collectors. We should too!
Finally, I wanted to tell you about the Town Meeting races. The following precincts are competitive this year:
4, 11, 14 and 18
Also the following precincts have active write-in campaigns:
1, 7, 14, 18 and 19
If you have questions about any of these races, let me know, and I will connect you to someone in that precinct who can give you more information.
This letter was published Wednesday, April 4, 2018.
A selectman supports Curro, Hurd
Selectmen Dan Dunn sent the following letter to the editor:
I’m voting for Joe Curro and John Hurd for selectman, and I encourage you to support them as well.
I have had a front-row seat for Joe’s work over the last six years. Joe is tireless. He is everywhere, working with a couple dozen different groups every month. He helps those groups, advises them, and puts in the hard work. Then he brings the thoughts, opinions, and insights of those groups back to every selectmen’s meeting. We need Joe returned to the board so he can continue his work.
John Hurd will bring other valuable perspectives to the board. He is a lawyer doing real estate, working with families moving in and out of Arlington. This gives him a unique, first-hand view on housing, real estate prices, and the demographic changes Arlington is experiencing. His long history in town, on the other hand, makes him an excellent voice for the people who have lived here for decades. I look forward to listening and learning from him on the board.
To be a good board member, one also has to work as a part of the team. You have to listen to others, persuade others, and make reasonable compromises. When we inevitably disagree, we need to get past it and work together on whatever the next issue is. We achieve far more when we can work together in a collegial, professional manner. Joe is a proven team member and I’m confident that John will be an excellent addition.
I hope you will join me and vote for Joe Curro and John Hurd on April 7. Thank you.
This letter published Friday, March 16, 2018.
Vote Hurd, Curro for a more walkable, bikeable Arlington
This letter was written by Philip Goff, a Grafton Street resident.
For those interested in promoting a more walkable, bikeable and livable Arlington, I hope you will join me in voting for John Hurd and Joe Curro for Board of Selectmen.
I first met Mr. Curro 10 years ago when a handful of parents worked with former board member Annie LaCourt and Joe to secure federal CDBG funding for new sidewalks near the Thompson School. Joe was new to the School Committee but clearly understood the importance of further developing “safe routes to school” in Arlington. Since then, he has been a champion of walking and bicycling programs and infrastructure, not only related to schools, but on the town’s key roadways as well.
Joe was an outspoken supporter of the Mass. Ave. Corridor redesign in East Arlington. He rejected project opponents’ false argument about crippling traffic congestion and devastated businesses that would come with the replacement of an unnecessary traffic lane with bike lanes, pedestrian crossing islands and other streetscape improvements. Joe (and fellow board members) stuck with the three-lane plan and ensured the federal and state funding was used to improve sustainable transportation in our town.
During the Mass. Ave. Corridor planning effort, I also had the privilege to meet John Hurd. John not only supported the town’s three-lane plan but helped with the campaign to defeat the 2013 ballot referendum designed to scuttle the bicycle lanes and many of the pedestrian improvements along the corridor.
Based on this personal experience and the various things I had read about both Joe Curro and John Hurd, I encourage all residents to vote for them on April 7 for Board of Selectmen.
This letter was published Monday, March 12, 2018.
