Dear Friends and Colleagues,

 

I’m happy to announce that I am running for the Concord School Board. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to make many great friends and work with many wonderful people in the area. During this time, I’d like to think I’ve developed and demonstrated qualities that will serve me well in a public position—integrity, prudence, open-mindedness, and more. I’m a lawyer, I’ve served on the Zoning Board for many years, and I have two children in the school district, including one who attends Rundlett. All of these are the traditional qualifications often put forward as reasons to believe someone will do a good job on the school board

 

However, I’m not asking for your vote simply because you know me or like (or don’t like) me. All I ask is that if you already know me and are open to hearing what I have to say, please take the time to learn more about my positions. If, after considering my views on the issues that matter most to you, you find that you can’t agree with my way of thinking, I won’t take it personally if I don’t earn your vote. I’d rather not have a vote than receive one based only on my personality.

 

On the other hand, I hope that after you’ve taken the time to consider my views, you’ll find them persuasive, and I can earn your vote in November.

 

The key issue that prompted me to enter this campaign is the decision to relocate the middle school. The public opposition to this decision has been widespread and consistent since it was made. I’ve reviewed most of the documents and meeting minutes, and I still can’t understand why the school district and board are moving forward with this relocation despite such clear public dissent. When the Concord Concerned Citizens group reached out in search of candidates to advocate against the relocation, and there was a shortage of volunteers, that was the primary reason I decided to step up.

 

I must warn you that when it comes to public funds, I view the responsibility to spend them wisely as almost sacred. I care deeply about children and want the best possible education for them—but that should be a given for anyone running for the school board. Just because I have children in the school system doesn’t mean I believe the board should prioritize families with children over other constituents. Public officials must serve all their constituents as even-handedly as possible, without personal bias.

 

This is especially challenging in a role like school board, where the temptation is always to spend more, because there’s always something else that our children need. We love our children, and we always have that feeling of wanting to give them more than we can. That’s natural. But the reality is that we live in a world of scarce resources. The temptation to overspend must be acknowledged and kept in check. Simply put, my philosophy is that we should provide the best education we can, but as cost-effectively as possible. These are the twin goals we must consistently keep in mind and balance in all important school board decisions. For those who prefer a more free-wheeling, spendthrift approach, I am not your candidate.

 

I would love to hear your questions about what’s important to you so I can share my thoughts, allowing you to make the most informed decision possible. Please feel free to post them here or email me directly at winters4schoolboard@gmail.com. I will answer as many as I can, as promptly as I can.

 

Yours Truly,

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