04/05/2023
Hello Georgetown,
Thank you for visiting my page, and for expressing an interest in our local government and schools. We already seem to have interests in common!
We have two young children in the Georgetown schools (currently pre-K and 2nd grade). I want my kids (and yours) to receive the best opportunities and to be positioned for success. I also believe that strong schools are what (both directly and indirectly) make our community desirable.
Here are some of the points about which I have been asked so far regarding my candidacy for this position:
Politics. The short answer is that I do not think that you need to wonder about my political beliefs, because this is an election for the School Committee. More specifically, I do not think that there should be any political influence of any persuasion on our teachers or curriculum, or by extension on our students. They should be getting those points of view from you at home (not from me). For Example: If you review my life experiences below you will see that I attended the US Air Force Academy, am a veteran, and worked as a defense contractor. That does not mean that I advocate for things like flags, uniforms, recruiters, etc. in our schools. My kids will get that at home from me. This sentiment however applies to beliefs/agendas on both sides of the political aisle. We should be doing that at home. I want my kids (and yours) to learn how to think, not what to think. I believe we have excellent teachers in Georgetown. It would be unfair of us to transform them from educators into any sort of moral authority, and this would only serve to cause divisions in our community between the homes and schools.
Budget. Anyone that we put on the School Committee should be in support of increased funding for the schools. I think this is a no-brainer and probably not a source of contention between the candidates. I believe that every town board or committee should have members that zealously advocate for its success. The competition between these various agendas is what eventually results in a budget compromise. The School Committee members must be able to articulately and persuasively convince other stakeholders that the school needs are critical both to the students and to the overall community. There is a strong case to be made that a robust school system affects the economics of all Georgetown residents (even those with no kids in the schools). We should count on our School Committee to make this case.
Drama. I do not do it. I enjoy working in a professional setting, negotiating critical concerns, and avoiding distractions. Our School Committee will be a shining example of effective local government, not only to other communities but to our children. We will examine all concerns for their applicability before responding and encourage as much relevant discussion as possible. We will tactfully avoid any issues which may be beyond our purview, or which provide no-value.
We have been in Georgetown for about 15 years. I have a BS from USAFA, and a JD from Suffolk. I work as an attorney now (in-house General Counsel). Prior to this I was a defense contractor, representing Raytheon and then Textron in various places around the country/world. My wife is both a Child-Life Specialist and a Registered Nurse. We enjoy hiking, paddling, biking, traveling, and she enjoys baking (I just eat). I will entertain anyone who wants to “meet-the-candidate” for more information, but drinks are on you.
