First let me say, it is the right of the Mayor to campaign
for whomever he wants. While I didn’t
walk door to door with his predecessor (Mayor Gray is walking with my
competitor), I was an avid supporter of the previous Mayor, so *I* would
probably campaign against me too, if I were him. But all joking aside, who am I and what do I *actually* stand for?
Sometimes I’m portrayed as a tax-and-spend liberal, aka
wild-eyed and irresponsible, someone wanting no accountability, a ‘rubberstamp’,
you’ve heard the names I and others have been called.
But the reality is, nothing could be further for the
truth. I am someone who digs in deeply
and takes the time to understand our city finances and our planning objectives
– capital improvement plans, the Master Plan from 2004, Open Space plans,
site-specific plans such as for the Lower Millyard. I spend lots of time
talking to city staff, attending committee meetings (not just the ones I have
to attend) and communicating what I’ve learned with my constituents. And my day
job is about working with communities to help them develop intelligent
affordable housing strategies.
I believe in economic development and creating an environment
where businesses feel supported.
I fought hard against the split-tax (which raised taxes on
local businesses back in 2006) and when I was elected for my first term in 2007,
I voted to overturn it the first chance we had. And that is why I also voted in support of the
two TIFF incentives for businesses that Mayor Gray has brought before the City
Council.
Let’s talk straight for a moment. I’ve been hearing about
the taxes being high in Amesbury since the day I moved here and that’s when the
tax rate was 14.24. This isn’t about tax
rates, it’s about people not wanting to pay taxes; I get it. Sure the taxes are
high, but most of us picked Amesbury because we could get more house for our
money, can have a better quality of life for less, and it’s a beautiful
community.
The idea that I don’t care about spending is silly—I chaired an ad hoc
committee in 2010 just after the housing crash to better understand our taxes
and spending. I fought against an
under-ride ballot measure sponsored by, among others, Councilor McClure, that
would have chopped $1 million dollars off of the top of our budget, because it
had no rationale behind it. And I have supported many difficult measures through
the years that cut spending. (Let’s remember that the only negative budget
growth that we’ve seen in the last twenty years came under Mayor Kezer.)
The difference between me and the Mayor is I’m not fixated on taxes;
I’m hung up on our services. I’m focused
on making sure we are right-sized, that we are talking about the amenities that
matter, whether that’s at the public library, the senior center, or our open
space properties. I’m fiercely dedicated
to educating our children and being a steward for our conservation land. You won’t see me making false promises about
cutting your tax bill. Instead, I will
fight for you. I will fight for what the things that I think define a healthy
and vibrant community. My family is here for the long haul.
So, I'm not really sure why he wants me out of office. I believe that we need a strong municipal Council that is independent and free-thinking, free to support the Mayor when it makes sense, and free to question him when necessary.
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