ISSUES

I support policies that promote safety, affordability, and balance in our neighborhoods.  I voted for the 3-student ordinance to balance the increasing demand for student housing in our neighborhoods. I voted for bulk zoning rules to ensure overdevelopment does not overwhelm our fragile wastewater system. In my most recent term, I championed and voted for regulations for short-term rentals to curb an alarming trend of investors buying up single family homes. These policies are designed to protect the fabric of our community by balancing the interests of owner-occupied families. I will continue work to encourage cooperation among property owners, tenants, students, vacationers, public safety/town officials, and residents to ensure safe and vibrant neighborhoods. If re-elected, I would like to focus more time on policies that will promote housing affordability for year-round families.

Our shoreline is a beautiful amenity, a destination for visitors, and a vibrant centerpiece of our local economy. I will be an advocate to protect access to the water and ensure our beaches remain safe for the enjoyment of residents and visitors. I voted to restore parking at the "Avenues" for public access to our beautiful coastline - this was a location that could accommodate parking and has historically been used for parking. I co-sponsored a motion to survey coastal access points - we identified encroachment from abutters as a first step to protect our shoreline. I sponsored and voted for a ban on plastic bags to reduce plastics that enter our landfills and pollute the ocean. I supported policies aimed at reducing parking congestion along the seawall and our central business district to make parking more available for visitors and business owners. Going forward, beach erosion and shoaling at the Narrow River is an important matter that will require significant attention and resources. I support investing resources for hazard mitigation in low-lying areas in neighborhoods that are prone to coastal flooding.

I ultimately would love to see the vision in our Galilee Special District plan come to fruition. I challenge the state’s position that the state is immune to local zoning, and I would like to see more local enforcement to ensure landowners and leaseholders comply with local zoning requirements outlined in the Galilee Special District ordinance. Specifically, land-side parcels on the southern end of Galilee solely used as surface parking do very little to support the fishing industry. Galilee is an important economic engine for the blue economy, and I am confident there is great potential to catalyze economic growth in fishing, water transportation, and recreation industries. I recommend an ad hoc commission to create a long-term development strategy for the Port and underutilized landside parcels. I believe a proper vision, financial incentives, and a more collaborative approach between the State and Town could catalyze more economic growth in the Blue Economy while planning for climate change resiliency.

I will continue to support capital investments in our sewer and water treatment and distribution systems while balancing conservation efforts. In my most recent term as Council President, I voted for an enterprise fund reserve policy to ensure sufficient funds are available to sustain the wastewater enterprise fund. The resulting new rate structure fixed a chronic deficit while boosting capital reserves. In the long term, we are going to have to consider regional water solutions to ensure a reliable supply of clean drinking water. Stormwater management and sea level rise are other important issues. I feel it is essential that we plan for climate resiliency as we consider future developments in our community.

I will continue my pledge to maintain civility and full transparency. I will always seek to listen to the public and approach every important decision with integrity and careful consideration. I will respect the public's right to speak at public forums and hearings and I will treat everyone with dignity and respect. As Council President, I introduced new rules, such as not texting during Council meetings because texts cannot be entered in the public record and private messaging during hearings and debates do not serve the spirit of open meetings laws. I also streamlined agenda setting, implemented time management strategies, enforced Roberts Rules of Order, and ran efficient meetings to make meetings shorter so that the public and Town Staff don't have to routinely attend meetings that last into the wee hours of the night.

Small businesses are the backbone of our community. I will ensure I put forth good due diligence and seek the input of the business community before considering any matters that will impact small businesses in our Town. I will work to maintain a competitive and consistence commercial tax rate. I support policies to make parking more available in our business district. I will do everything I can to promote entrepreneurship and business growth in our community.