Three years ago when I asked you to help me get elected to the Board of Selectmen, I made some promises.

I believed that the town must enter into a more thoughtful planning process to assess needs and set priorities, to act with courage in order to focus our limited resources on the things that matter most to Arlington residents.

I promised to lead in those initiatives and in the last three years I have:

* Led the effort to consolidate the town and school IT departments under the town manager, saving $50,000 in the FY08 operating budget that went directly to preserving classroom programs.

* Promoted the application of performance management principles to town operations. This led to the analysis that proved the need for an additional police officer and found the means to do it without increasing
the budget.

I also promised you a town government that is open and communicates with residents. I promised to be a town official who listens to citizens' concerns with an open mind, and then acts to formulate policies that embody those concerns.  And I have followed through on my promises. In the last three years I have:

* Created and led the effort to seek citizen input into the town's long-term financial planning process. The result has been specific, actionable ideas for improving productivity while holding the line on costs that all department heads are evaluating now.

* Held a public hearing on whether to plow the minuteman bikeway in winter. This lead to a reevaluation of the policy not to plow and a low cost trial, which has shown that residents from all walks of life will use the path in winter if it's available and that the cost of keeping it open is lower than expected.

* Worked to improve communications from the town including continuous improvement efforts on the town Web site and the creation of an online announcement subscription system on the town Webs site.

But there is more to do.  In the next three years, we will come to the end of the current long term plan and a new plan is being written as we speak. I want to be there to be sure that the needs of the schools, an increase in public safety resources and more realistic targets for health care cost increases and state aid are included in that plan.  We are about to implement a new web based complaint tracking system for the town. I want to be there to ensure that this and other efforts to improve communications between the residents and there government go forward. To do this, I need your help, your vote and your contributions.

I am asking you to vote for me on April 5th and to help me get the word out to all your friends and neighbors.

Please join me at my campaign kick off event at the home of Mary Cummings at 135 Jason St. on February 10th from 3 to 5 pm. With your help I will continue to make sure that your tax dollars are used effectively and your voice is heard in town government.

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