Following are responses from some of the Lincolnites who are running uncontested as first-time or incumbent candidates on the March 27 town election. The Lincoln Squirrel previously published articles looking at the contested races for Planning Board and School Committee.
- Kim Bodnar (Select Board)
- Manley Boyce (Cemetery Commission)
- Neil Feinberg (Housing Commission)
- Paul Fitzgerald (Commissioner of Trust Funds)
- Fred Mansfield (Board of Health)
- Lucy Maulsby (L-S School Committee)
- Ravi Simon (L-S School Committee)
- Rob Stringer (Parks and Recreation Committee)
Kim Bodnar
Running for: Select Board (first-time candidate)
Kim Bodnar
1. What made you decide to run for this board or committee?
From my family’s earliest days in Lincoln, I have valued my time first as a school volunteer and then as a town volunteer. As a member of the School Building Committee (SBC), I enjoyed my time collaborating with other boards, committees and town staff and have learned so much by listening to and engaging with other residents. Although challenging, I also appreciate the moments in the committee where we had to debate, question, and make hard decisions to come to a consensus and move the project forward. As it winds down, I realized that it is these connections and moments that I would miss most, and this is what brings me to my next chapter as a volunteer. I appreciate and value the input from residents and, as a Select Board member, look forward to expanding my scope of work and problem solving for the betterment of Lincoln.
2. What would you bring to the table for this position in terms of specific professional and/or personal experience?
I believe my professional experience in project management and communication will serve me well on the Select Board. Being able to juggle multiple projects, understand the details of an issue, ask probing questions, and listen to feedback from different stakeholders while working towards positive outcomes are skills that I’ve developed in my professional background and while volunteering in Lincoln. I also value a collaborative, thoughtful approach that focuses on building consensus.
3. What do you think is the biggest issue facing the board or committee you’re running for, and, if elected, how do you plan to address it?
As a Select Board member, I will work to ensure that residents have relevant information in a timely manner to make important town decisions. To support that goal, often times the Select Board will bring together representatives from other town boards and committees to flesh out a topic, seek the necessary information, ask the pertinent questions, gather residents to hear feedback, and respond with an inclusive and thoughtful multi-board strategy. One of the challenges facing Lincoln today is housing, especially in the middle market. I support and greatly appreciate the efforts of our Housing Choice Act Working Group that was formed by the Select Board in 2022 as a response to the state’s Housing Choice Initiative, which was created to encourage towns and cities to approve zoning bylaws that help the state meet the high demand for housing. This is one of the state’s effort to tackle our housing crisis. As a community whose polling suggests we value more diversified housing, we must be open to creative and thoughtful problem solving that best serves the needs of our community. I look forward to collaborating with the talented volunteers on the Housing Commission, Planning Board, our town’s professional staff, the Housing Choice Act Working Group, and the many others involved to learn more about these challenges and how we might affect responsible change.
Manley Boyce
Running for: Cemetery Commission (incumbent)
I am Manley Boyce and I have been on the Cemetery Commission for some time now. I am retired but had been the director of transportation for the Concord-Carlisle High School and the Concord Schools after changing careers from working with Mobil Oil Company.
Our biggest challenge is addressing the needs of the Lincoln community regarding cemetery space. We are actively looking into finding more space in the future. We also need to focus on keeping our cemeteries in pristine condition. This includes reminding visitors who bring their leashed dogs to the cemetery that they need to respect our grounds by diligently removing any debris.
Neil Feinberg
Running for: Housing Commission (first-time candidate)
Neil Feinberg
1. What made you decide to run for this board or committee?
I decided to run for the Lincoln Housing Commission because of its pivotal role in managing Lincoln’s existing affordable housing stock and in creating additional affordable housing. I’m particularly interested in creating more affordable housing for seniors on fixed incomes, town employees, and children of present and past residents, as stated in the commission’s charter.
2. What would you bring to the table for this position in terms of specific professional and/or personal experience?
I have been a corporate recruiter most of my adult life. This has given me the opportunity to evaluate a person’s impact on organizations. Locally, I served as a Bemis Trustee, as a member and chairman of the Lincoln Celebrations Committee for over a decade, and as town treasurer and collector of taxes (don’t hold that last part against me). Also, for 20 years I wrote a highly influential (not really) weekly column about politics and life in Lincoln that appeared in the Lincoln Journal.
3. What do you think is the biggest issue facing the board or committee you’re running for, and, if elected, how do you plan to address it?
Without a doubt, Lincoln’s ability to comply with the state-mandated MBTA communities zoning law represents the Commission’s most significant challenge in the coming years. That law requires communities with MBTA service to allow multifamily housing within a half-mile of transit stations. Lincoln is required to submit zoning changes to allow such development in 2024. This is problematic for Lincoln, given the dearth of available land for development. Any solution will require great creativity. I look forward to playing a role in that process and in the town’s relationship with the Commonwealth.
Paul Fitzgerald
Running for: Commissioner of Trust Funds (incumbent)
I have been on the Commissions of Trust board for six years. This will be my second re-election. I am a general practice CPA with the Boston-based CPA firm R.A. Hall & Co., LLC.
One of the interesting conversations the board had was considering how to approach the petition in the town to divest from fossil fuels. Ultimately the board decided that it would not have any direct investment in fossil fuel stocks but would continue to use mutual funds which might or might not include some energy components.
The board also had to consider what the impact of this kind of decision could have on the town’s portfolio, as the same criteria could be applied to any number of socially contentious issues. At what point would restricted investment mean the town not giving student scholarships or shutting down other programs? While the town is not in that position now, the eventual impact of restrictions could lead to that situation.
The challenge for the board going forward is to see that the town’s portfolio performs reasonably and safely so that resources can be available to the town for the various programs to which people have contributed funds over its history can be maintained. I expect there will be various turbulence in the markets over the coming years. Our job is to screen out the noise and make sure that the town portfolio stays on a reasoned and secure footing.
Fred Mansfield
Running for: Board of Health (incumbent)
I have served on the Board of Health since 1996 and am an orthopedic spine surgeon (recently retired). Routine issues for the board include septic system inspection, permitting, and variances; inspection and permitting of food establishments — Donelan’s, Twisted Tree, Tack room, coffee shop at DeCordova, church kitchens, etc.; vaccination clinics; discussion of Covid prevention measures for schools, churches, Pierce House events, Bemis Hall, summer camps, and trails; and radon testing.
Our biggest challenge in the next three years (as always in the past) is to deal with each issue before us on the basis of scientific evidence (FDA, CDC, medical professional societies, public health societies), and then to convince Lincoln’s citizens of the reasonableness of our suggestions, since we have very limited enforcement power.
Lucy Maulsby
Running for: Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee (first-time candidate)
Lucy Maulsby
1. What made you decide to run for this board or committee?
With my eldest child joining LSRHS as a ninth-grader next year and another headed there in a few short years, I am especially looking forward to helping shape the future of L-S as the school transitions to new leadership at a critical time in the institution’s history.
2. What would you bring to the table for this position in terms of specific professional and/or personal experiences?
I am an Associate Professor at Northeastern University where, in addition to teaching courses in architectural history, I manage undergraduate programs and have served as chair of the School of Architecture. In these roles I am engaged in curriculum and program development, faculty assessment, budget preparation, staff reviews, hiring of faculty and staff, and student engagement and support.
I have also supported the Lincoln Public Schools as the School Committee appointee to the Library Board of Trustees (2019–present) and as a member at large and grant chair for the Lincoln School Foundation (2014–18). This work has instilled in me a deep appreciation for student-centered learning and the transformative potential of education.
Each candidate brings a unique set of skills and perspectives. As a Lincoln resident, I am excited to forge meaningful links between L-S and Lincoln, especially the Lincoln schools. As a parent, I look forward to supporting the continued growth of L-S as a vital and dynamic institution. As an educator, I am deeply committed to the transformative power of education and alert to the critical role high school plays in preparing students for the future.
3. What do you think is the biggest issue facing the board or committee you’re running for, and, if elected, how do you plan to address it?
I look forward to supporting the school during the transition to new leadership as the school welcomes a new principal/superintendent and several key administrators in the coming year. To facilitate this process, I will aim to forge connections between leadership within L-S and the communities of which the school is a part; and foster an environment of thoughtful, respectful, and transparent participation and debate within the School Committee.
Ravi Simon
Running for: Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee (first-time candidate)
Ravi Simon
1. What made you decide to run for this board or committee?
My experience in the public schools, especially Lincoln-Sudbury, profoundly shaped the person I have become, including my career in public service. I am excited to be running for School Committee because, as a member of the Class of 2015, I still see myself in the student body and I feel a strong sense of responsibility for our high school. First as a student, then as a legislative staffer, I have seen firsthand the kind of impact that policy and budgetary decisions can have on L-S. I am seeking this seat to help the next generation of students unlock their passions.
2. What would you bring to the table for this position in terms of specific professional and/or personal experiences?
Currently, I work as the sole staffer for State Representative Carmine Gentile, who represents Sudbury and Precinct 1 in Lincoln. In my position, I have gained valuable experience learning about education funding, advocating for policies that benefit our students, and working to secure money for our communities. My experience on the state level would be an asset for the committee.
If elected, I will bring a fresh, first-hand perspective to the table as a former student. I would be the only member of the L-S school committee to have recently graduated high school, a valuable perspective on topics such as student mental health.
3. What do you think is the biggest issue facing the board or committee you’re running for, and if elected, how do you plan to address it?
In the near term, the greatest issue for the School Committee is managing a major transition to a new superintendent/principal. Not only is Bella Wong leaving, but several top positions in the L-S administration are turning over to new folks. We need to make sure that the L-S School Committee works collaboratively with the new superintendent and administration to support their work and limit disruption to teachers and students. I also have a full platform you can read at ravisimon.com.
Rob Stringer
Running for: Parks and Recreation Committee (incumbent)
Rob Stringer (for other examples of his art, click here.)
I am Rob Stringer (he/him pronouns) and I am running for re-election to the Parks and Recreation Committee. This will be my second term on the committee, and I look forward to another three years of helping to build community in Lincoln through the programs and events run by the wonderful staff at the Parks and Recreation Department and community volunteers.
The past three years were quite challenging for the department. There was Covid that halted most of our regularly scheduled programs. Then we had to adapt to the new social distancing restrictions to get the pool open, have camp-like activities running, and bringing back other much-loved programs to keep Lincolnites and our other members engaged and active while safe. The great news is that more school-aged residents seem to be taking advantage of what the department is offering than before Covid. However, one of the major challenges we’ll have in the next three years is to re-engage our adult population, whose numbers have not rebounded in the way we’d like.
One of the pieces of feedback we’ve heard as to why adults are not coming back is they don’t feel comfortable going to in-person events in our current available space. I hope that a new/renovated building can provide spaces for re-engagement of our adult community in a way our current infrastructure cannot. Prior to any construction, we’ll be focused on continuing to provide the best in-person and hybrid programming while building on the success of our new annual events like Fall Fest and the Candy Cane hunt.
Additionally, once the central field at Ballfield Road is back and available (for parking), we can start planning for our annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration, most likely for summer of 2024. Finally, maintaining our current facilities will continue to be a challenge and investment. The clay tennis courts have reached a level of maturity that will involve the town having to do some major work on the irrigation system to keep them up and running; the slide at the pool will hopefully soon be replaced; the fields around the renovated Lincoln School have to be fixed and then established before they can be open for use for T-ball, baseball, and soccer; other fields in town have drainage issues that are in the process of being addressed; and the mowing and maintenance contracts for all town-owned fields and parks have to continually be managed. I look forward to continuing to work with Jessica, David, and Laurie as well as the rest of the committee to continue to put in the work to provide spaces and programs that build community here in Lincoln.