government

(Editor’s note: the signatories with asterisks below also signed this letter of support that was posted on March 21.)

While we are delighted that there is a contested race for Select, the Lincoln residents listed below are writing to endorse Jim Hutchinson for the Select Board. We think that Jim has the breadth and depth of experience that make him highly qualified for election to the Select Board. He has served as a member of the

• Water Commission for two years and (currently chair)
• Finance committee for seven years (chair for two years)
• Subcommittees for several issues such as the process for placing solar panels on the schools
• Green Energy Committee for eight years
• Codman Board for three years as treasurer

Jim has a thoughtful, inclusive and collaborative approach exemplified in his service on the various town committees. His colleagues on the Finance Committee, Water Commission, and Green Energy Committee, who have enthusiastically endorsed him, describe Jim as a problem solver, a person who can balance costs and benefits, and a leader in complex decision making. In our collective view, he is an outstanding candidate for the Lincoln Select Board.

Town elections are Monday, March 28 at the Smith gym or you can vote by mail. We hope you will join us and vote for Jim Hutchinson.

Sincerely,

By Adam Hogue

(Editor’s note: Hogue is running against Jim Hutchinson for the Select Board seat being vacated by James Craig. He sent the following to LincolnTalk in answer to a question about what local issues he believes are important and how his experience and qualifications would contribute to addressing those challenges. His answer is reprinted here with his permission.)

One of the most important issues (not only in Lincoln but the Commonwealth overall) is housing. I love our community and I know others that want to live here, but are either priced out or simply unable to find a home given the supply. We need more housing options in Lincoln so that people can afford to live in our great community. In addition, I also want to make sure that people are not forced to sell their homes due to inability to pay taxes, so that people are able to age in place if they so desire.

The next issue that I see as critical is sustainability and green energy. As we have seen with gas prices and heating costs (even prior to the current situation), we need to work with our leaders on Beacon Hill and as a region to fulfill our energy needs in a smart way that doesn’t economically burden our residents.

Finally, another important issue, and one of my main goals, is to work with the Finance Committee to build a reasonable budget that serves our needs while also making sure we do not put too much of a burden on the taxpayers of Lincoln.

In terms of my experiences and qualifications, I have been involved in state and regional politics for years though my charity work for veterans, as well as lobbying to teach financial education to children in schools. If elected, I will use the relationships that I have built to work together with elected officials in our neighboring towns and the state level to make sure we solve issues together.

Specific to Lincoln, I have volunteered to run many veterans’ events in town and the Fourth of July run. These experiences have given me a great appreciation of the importance of these community events. I want to work to create more community events in town and to make sure that we bring back the Fourth of July fireworks to our community once the school project is done. So many in our community miss this great event.

I have also served the town as a current School Committee member. I have helped form budget and policy in this role and have worked with numerous people in town for the last four years. This has helped me understand how the town works, as well as what goes into the budget process, and has also helped me to understand the community. While the work has been challenging at times, it has always given me great pride to serve our children and our community. During my time on the School Committee, we have kept the budget within the Finance Committee’s guidance and have not had to ask for an override.

Finally, I love serving my community. I picked this up from my 17 years in the United States Military where I was awarded a Bronze Star for my action in Afghanistan. I also currently serve on the Capital Planning Committee as part of my role on the School Committee, and as I’m sure others on that committee may say, I am not afraid to speak up and suggest new ideas. I don’t passively accept the answer “because that is how we have always done it” because we have to be creative and have debates to solve issues. I like to learn and work with people and I believe that debating the issues to come up with the best solution(s) is an integral part of this work.

Thank you once again and I would appreciate your support on March 28!

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

We are writing to endorse Jim Hutchinson for the Select Board. For several years, he has contributed his experience and analytical skills to many town committees. For the past eight years on the Green Energy Committee (GEC), Jim has offered critical thinking and leadership during a time of transition. The climate crisis has brought urgency to the role of the GEC as the town responds to new state guidelines for energy efficiency and reduced emissions.

Jim’s ability to see the problems clearly and articulate the way forward has helped the committee navigate this new path. He is determined to balance costs and benefits, using a “sharp pencil” when needed. He is mindful of the need for residential equity and inclusivity as the town works to implement needed change in our energy practices. Most recently, he has played a key role on the PPA subcommittee, which is working to put solar PV panels on our newly renovated Lincoln School.

Jim has waded into the thorny problems that confront our town organizations during these difficult times. He often brings a light touch of humor to discussions help all of us see the issues more clearly. Lincoln is lucky to have his background, temperament, and commitment to the town.

Sincerely,

Alex Chatfield
Buck Creel
Andy Fallender
Trisha O’Hagan
Roy Harvey
Ed Kern
Chris Klem
Sue Klem
Ed Lang
Paul Shorb
Lynne Smith

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

(Editor’s note: Hogue will compete for the open seat on the Select Board with Jim Hutchinson, who declared his candidacy earlier this month.)

Dear Lincoln community,

I am pleased to announce my candidacy for the open seat on the Board of Selects. I want to start by thanking James Craig for his years of service to the town.

Since moving to Lincoln nine years ago, I have been a very active member of our community. I have enjoyed helping to plan our Veterans Day events and our Fourth of July run, along with my involvement in other town events. I have also been a member of the School Committee for the last few years and serve on the Capital Planning Committee.

I want to serve on the Select Board because I want to bring positive change to Lincoln along with new ideas.  While serving on our town committees, I have learned that we need fresh ideas to make our town even better while being fiscally responsible to the taxpayers of our town.

I look forward to a great campaign and meeting everyone on the campaign trail. I hope I can earn your vote!

Adam M. Hogue
50 Lincoln Rd.

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.