Town moderator, realtor
Why are you running again for moderator?
I am running again because I care deeply about Marblehead and believe strong, fair leadership at town meeting matters. The moderator plays a critical role in preserving trust in the process. Over the last four years, I have worked hard to make Town Meeting organized, accessible, efficient and impartial. I believe continuity and experience are valuable, particularly as the town faces increasingly complicated issues and passionate deliberation. I remain committed to serving the community with fairness, preparation and respect for all viewpoints.
What do you see as the most important mission of the town moderator?
The most important mission of the moderator is to provide guidance to citizens. Whether it is questions about the legislative process or based in an interest to achieve a goal through submission of an article, there are many nuances which, through my experience and knowledge of the town, I can provide guidance and clarity on.
Another priority is to protect the integrity of Town Meeting and ensure that the process is fair, orderly and accessible to everyone. The moderator should foster an environment where voters can deliberate differing opinions respectfully while ensuring meetings are conducted efficiently and within state law and our town bylaws.
What do you think are the biggest challenges?
Whatever challenges we face in our time, I am often reminded that Marblehead has faced overwhelmingly challenging times in our 377 years of town meetings. Tories living next to Patriots, our downtown burning to the ground twice within 11 years in the late 1800s, extreme poverty and disease add to the regular business of the time.
The issues facing the town since I became moderator have brought increased participation. Because of that, we have had physical challenges related to venue and technologies along with greater interest in the issues and the process of town meeting. As issues facing the town become more complex, both financially and operationally, it is increasingly important that Town Meeting remains well organized, accessible and understandable to our citizens.
What would you do differently (if anything) next year?
Coming into my fifth year as moderator, I have made several changes, most intentional and some imposed upon us with the change of location. The TM26 team has already met to debrief on this past meeting and any changes for the next meeting will likely be minor.
I would like to continue improving education around the process leading up to Town Meeting so residents feel better informed before arriving at the meeting. Every year provides lessons that can help make the process more effective and more accessible.
What do you think is the biggest misunderstanding about the town moderator’s role?
The biggest misunderstanding is that the moderator is an advocate for particular positions or outcomes. The moderator’s responsibility is exactly the opposite. My role requires neutrality, consistency and fairness to all sides. The moderator’s job is to ensure the rules are followed, deliberation is managed fairly, and everyone has confidence that the process is impartial.
It is an honor to hold the position of moderator and to bring the history and traditions of our town forward through my oversight of Marblehead Town Meeting.
What skills/experience do you bring to the race?
I bring decades of community, municipal and business leadership along with a keen interest in Marblehead’s governance. I regularly attend public meetings of boards and commissions and work to connect the dots between the work of the executive branch and Town Meeting.
Professionally, I have spent nearly 40 years in real estate where negotiation, communication, organization and problem-solving are essential every day. My experiences have taught me how to manage meetings, work collaboratively and build consensus among people with differing perspectives.
As moderator, I have already demonstrated the ability to run large public meetings in a fair, organized and respectful manner. I prepare extensively, understand procedure and approach the role with professionalism and impartiality. Most importantly, I genuinely care about the town and the importance of preserving confidence in our town meeting tradition.”
