The Lincoln Squirrel – News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

My Turn

My Turn: Help with winter electricity bills (CFREE Tip #10)

By the Lincoln Green Energy Committee

1. Eversource heat pump rate

CFREE wants to let residents know about the lower electric rates for heat pump owners. Most recent heat-pump converts may already be signed up but if you have an older system you should make sure you are on this electric rate. Please check your bills to make sure you are!

Households with one or more heat pumps are eligible for a heat pump rate from Eversource, who estimates that it can save you close to 20% on your electricity bill. (Heat pump water heaters by themselves do not qualify.) We announced this back in November, but if you missed that and haven’t signed up (or been signed up automatically) it’s very easy to do so. Just click here. 

If you’re not sure if you’re getting this rate, look at the section of your Eversource bill where the delivery costs are shown. Look for “R1HP-Residential Heat Pump” shown on the attached excerpt from a sample bill. If you have a heat pump but your current rate is R1 or R3, you should ask to be changed to the R1HP-Residential Heat Pump rate, which is lower than either. Click here for illustrations. 

2. Bill relief for winter electric use

And in case you missed the January 23 email from Eversource, there’s a two-month rate reduction ahead, regardless of whether or not you have heat pumps. Note that the relief described will not cover bills for our very cold January. Here’s what they wrote:

We understand that managing higher electric bills alongside other rising expenses has been challenging. As part of ongoing efforts to reduce energy costs, the Healey-Driscoll Administration is providing $180 million in funding to help reduce your electric bills this winter. For your electricity use from Feb. 1, 2026, to March 31, 2026, the rate you pay will be reduced by 25%. Working collaboratively with our regulator and other utilities in Massachusetts, we have adjusted rates down in recognition of the sustained cold weather that has caused electric bills to be higher than this time last year, putting strain on household budgets.

Your total bill savings will be dependent on your energy use. If approved, this 25% reduction will be applied automatically, and you do not need to take any action. This 25% reduction will be reflected under the “current charges for electricity” section of your bill. Although the 25% is not its own line item, we reduced certain rate components to achieve this reduction.

CFREE (Carbon Free Residential — Everything Electric) is a subcommittee of the Lincoln Green Energy Committee. For previous CFREE Tips, click here. CFREE provides guidance on how households can reduce use of fossil fuels and decrease greenhouse gas emissions to help Massachusetts meet statewide emissions limits set for 2030, 2040, and 2050. It also provides information about state and federal incentives that help reduce the cost of such changes. For guidance on such projects at your home, email lincolngreencoach@gmail.com. For more information, visit www.lincolngreenenergy.org.

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnians. 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.

My Turn: McCLure is running for L-S School Committee

By Jason McClure

I want to announce that I’m running for Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Committee to succeed Lucy Maulsby, who is stepping down after three years of thoughtful and dedicated service to the school and our community.

For those who don’t know me, I’ll share a bit of my background. My wife Tessa and I moved to Lincoln in 2022 from St. Louis and have two children at L-S. The high school was a major factor in our decision to live in the area, and I am heavily invested in its success.

While here, I’ve been involved in Lincoln Youth Soccer, First Parish Teen Service Committee, L-S Graduation Late Night and the Lincoln School promotion committee, which helped restore the D.C. trip for Lincoln’s eighth-graders.

You might have also seen me marching in the Lincoln Fourth of July parade with the Lincoln Minutemen, flipping burgers at L-S football games, or chasing fly balls in the Lincoln Co-ed Softball League.

Professionally, I’m a journalist for a nonprofit investigative news outlet that covers global health. Previously, I worked for Bloomberg News, Reuters and a number of other media organizations. I also taught journalism for six years at the University of Missouri.

I believe that L-S is an amazing school, and I want to help sustain its momentum. If elected, my priorities would be to:

  • Support L-S’s diverse course offerings that allow our teachers to teach classes they’re passionate about and give our students course options that rival those at many colleges.
  • Bolster initiatives that foster community at L-S among students of different grades and backgrounds.
  • Aid the school committee’s commitment to transparency and open communication with staff, parents, students and the community.
  • Work to keep the L-S Regional School District on a sound financial footing.

The district faces challenges that will require careful planning. The school’s roof requires a major repair or replacement that will likely necessitate a new bond issue. Federal funding for our special education programs is uncertain due to changes in Washington, D.C. Like many public schools, L-S’s enrollment has been gradually declining, necessitating spending and staffing adjustments.

If elected, I’m committed to addressing such issues with the long-term health of our high school in mind ­– while remaining mindful of the growth of property taxes.

I’ll work to continue the current committee’s record of collaboration, respect for differing viewpoints and reasoned debate. Finally, I’m eager to hear your thoughts on how we can improve our school and how the committee can better serve the community.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at  jmclure@yahoo.com. I would be grateful for your support at the polls on Monday, March 30.

Jason McClure
191 Concord Road, Lincoln

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnians. 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.

My Turn: Kudos to Lincoln Witness vigil participants

By Kim Jalet

Thank you to the 55-60 people who came out for some or all of Sunday night’s Lincoln Witness vigil. We shined the light of liberty on a cold and snowy evening full of community building and learning.

For those who were unable to attend but who were with us in spirit, you can learn more about actions you can take at our website at lincolnwitness.org, where you’ll find information about the De-ICE Hanscom movement, vigils at the Burlington ICE field office where people have been kept for days in poor conditions, and legislation we support.

Please save the date for the upcoming Benefit Concert for Emergency Immigrant Support featuring music by the Honey Steelers on Sunday, Feb. 8. Lincoln Witness and St. Anne’s in the Field’s Social Justice Commission are co-sponsoring the event, with support from the First Parish Lincoln Racial Justice Committee and other generous contributors. We hope you’ll join us!

A special thank you to the Selects, Tim Higgins, and Rod McDonald at the town offices for making the lobby available in case anyone needed to warm up.

Let’s keep shining our lights, Lincoln!

Warmly,

Kim Jalet
Brooks Road

The January 18 vigil at Town Hall. (Photo by Brian Jalet)

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnians. 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.

My Turn: DeLisi aims for another Planning Board term

By Lynn DeLisi

Dear Lincoln residents,

I am pleased to announce my candidacy for re-election to the Lincoln Planning Board, a position I have cherished for the past decade, and I ask for your continued support.

Lincoln is not just where I live; it is a community I truly care about. From the moment we moved here 15 years ago, I have felt a strong responsibility to protect the neighborhoods, open spaces, and sense of safety that make this town so special.

My work on the Planning Board has always centered on one goal: to represent all residents thoughtfully and with sensitivity to their needs, and ensure that no project or policy coming before the Planning Board negatively impacts neighbors or their property. I listen carefully, research thoroughly, and speak up when development threatens the character or stability of a neighborhood.

If re-elected, I will continue to:

  • Safeguard residents’ properties and quality of life.
  • Ensure responsible, transparent development.
  • Update our long-range plan to reflect both growth and preservation.
  • Protect Lincoln’s trees, farmlands, and natural beauty.
  • Facilitate strong open communication between residents and the Board

I am dedicated to keeping Lincoln the community we all chose for its peace, integrity, and shared respect for one another. I would be honored to continue representing you.

With gratitude and commitment,

Lynn E. DeLisi, South Great Road
delisi76@aol.com

“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.

My Turn: Madrick seeks reelection to Lincoln School Committee

By Matina Madrick

Hello, I’m Matina Madrick, the current chair of the Lincoln School Committee, and I’m excited to share that I am running for re-election.

Over the past two and a half years, I’ve had the privilege of serving on the School Committee. Early in my first year, my colleagues entrusted me with the role of chair. The work has been demanding and deeply rewarding, giving me a firsthand appreciation for the complexity of public education — balancing strong academics with fiscal responsibility, supporting our dedicated teachers and staff, and ensuring that every Lincoln student has access to high-quality learning opportunities.

I’ve also learned how critical it is to stay connected with the community. I regularly meet with parents, educators, and other residents to listen, answer questions, and understand the perspectives that should inform our decisions. Those conversations shape how I approach my work on the Committee.

I am proud of what we’ve accomplished together:

  • Strengthening financial oversight and transparency by establishing a Finance Subcommittee, improving budget consistency, and closely tracking timelines.
  • Maintaining educational quality while respecting taxpayer constraints—passing two level-service budgets within the town’s 2.5% guideline and supporting the administration through collective bargaining and the successful renewal of the Hanscom contract.
  • Championing the selection and rollout of a new English Language Arts curriculum, which earned strong support from families and faculty and represents a long-term investment in teaching quality.
  • Improving School Committee processes to make meetings and materials more accessible, reduce meeting length, and encourage clearer, more data-driven reporting.

As chair during a period of significant administrative transition, I’ve focused on maintaining continuity and building strong, respectful relationships across the district and town — helping ensure smooth planning and stable support for our schools.

If re-elected, my priorities include:

  • Strengthening our shared campus vision. As the community center moves forward, we must collaborate to balance the needs of students, families, and the broader community.
  • Right-sizing resources. As Lincoln’s demographics shift, we need to track enrollment trends carefully and adjust budgets responsibly while maintaining the high educational standards families expect.
  • Consistently reporting on student achievement. We’ve made progress, and I plan to continue improving how we track student growth and clearly identify areas where additional support is needed.
  • Making equity concrete. Lincoln values equity and inclusion, and the School Committee must translate those values into tangible decisions — from curriculum to resource allocation — so every student has the opportunity to succeed.

I’ll be hosting several meet-and-greets and would love to connect. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime at mmadrick@gmail.com. Thank you for your consideration. I would be honored to continue serving the Lincoln community. As a reminder, Election Day in Lincoln is March 30, 2026!

“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.

My Turn: Ravi Simon running for reelection to L-S School Committee

By Ravi Simon

Dear Lincoln,

Thank you for the honor of electing me to serve on the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee. I am excited to declare my candidacy for a second term and ask for your support once again.

I ran for the L-S School Committee in 2023 to bring my perspective as a former student to the committee’s work and to help ensure that today’s students receive an education as strong as the one I received as a member of the Class of 2015.

Over the past three years, I have been proud to take on a leadership role on the committee. Anyone who knows me knows that I hold strong views grounded in my values. At the same time, I firmly believe that good leadership begins with listening respectfully to all perspectives and working toward consensus. In that spirit, I have focused on strengthening the committee’s collegiality and our working relationships with the L-S Administration, our teachers, and both towns. This approach has earned the confidence of my colleagues, who elected me vice chair in 2023 and chair in 2024, and unanimously re-elected me as chair in May 2025.

During my first term, I played a key role in successfully negotiating a fair contract with our teachers, helped launch the process that resulted in a ban on cell phones in classrooms, and ensured greater transparency by releasing documents to the community in advance of our meetings. Most of all, I am proud to have played a part in ensuring that L-S remains on stable financial and academic footing, while preserving the unique character and culture that make our high school special.

Serving Lincoln at both the local and state levels has been a privilege. For close to five years, I have also worked as the sole staff member for State Rep. Carmine Gentile, who represents constituents in both Sudbury and Lincoln in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. This role has provided me the opportunity to meet many of my neighbors in both towns and to listen closely to their priorities and concerns, which helps me better serve students and families on the School Committee.

Although work and friendships already connected me to Lincoln, one of the most enjoyable parts of serving on the committee has been getting to know the town even better. We may have crossed paths at the Winter Carnival Coffee House, Girl Scout pancake breakfast, Council on Aging holiday lunch, Town Meeting, IDEA newcomers party, the PTO back-to-school picnic, or other community gatherings. I look forward to continuing to be a familiar face around town — although you’ll have to forgive me for remaining a Sudbury resident.

My current objectives on the committee include:

  • Completing a long-overdue legal and technical update to the regional agreement between Lincoln and Sudbury, which has not been revised since the 1980s;
  • Ensuring that the School Committee and administration are able to successfully repair or replace our aging roof
  • Helping foster an environment where all students feel welcome by including a nonvoting METCO representative in the committee’s discussions, evaluating our ADA compliance, and advancing efforts to educate students about issues of inclusion and respect for human differences.

And, of course, I will continue to bring my distinct perspective as an alumnus to discussions as the committee works to meet the academic and social-emotional needs of students.

I will be working to earn your vote on Monday, March 30. If you’re interested in learning more, I hope you will visit my campaign website (ravisimon.com), and please reach out (raviforlincolnsudbury@gmail.com) if you have any questions, or would like to talk.

Warmly,

Ravi Simon
437 Cold Brook Drive, Sudbury

“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.

My Turn: Payne running to succeed Town Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden

(Editor’s note: Longtime Tow Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden announced in December that she would not be seeking another term.)

By Andy Payne

Fellow residents,

I’m running for Town Moderator.

Some of my background and principles: I was on the Finance Committee for several years, chairing it for five. I have experience with and appreciation for the Town Meeting process, working with residents and town staff, finding agreement, and respectfully disagreeing.

Our little town depends heavily on volunteers. I’ve lived in Lincoln nearly all of my adult life and raised three children here. I know it’s a cliche, but I feel an obligation to continue to “give back.”

My LincolnTalk posts and Town Meeting podium time demonstrate my approach to ensuring that residents are informed about (sometimes) complex topics, the implications of their votes, and essential trade-offs. If voters support it, I’d be honored to continue that work as Moderator.

On Town Meeting itself:

Town Meeting starts long before the actual meeting. I would strongly encourage groups to host sessions and post materials (FAQs, videos, slides, etc.) in advance so residents can come fully informed. For especially contentious topics, it might be possible for the moderator to serve as a pre-meeting facilitator between opposing groups.

Long meetings are burdensome for some, and the Town Meeting Study Committee has done excellent work identifying accessibility issues.

I believe that clickers, front-loading the schedule with the expected contentious topics, pre-published information, and moving even more items onto the consent calendar will go a long way toward keeping things manageable. Also, chyrons on the video feed clearly indicating the current and next warrant articles, along with (possibly) a simple text alert system for agenda items, will support those who need to “cherry-pick” their attendance.

With that said, I believe it’s worth spending some extra meeting time to ensure the process is as fair as possible and people feel heard, even when the vote goes against them. Also, it’s important for us all to understand the mechanics of Town Meeting and town government.

The election is on Monday, March 30.

Sarah Cannon Holden will leave some very big shoes to fill after our upcoming Town Meeting on March 28, and I’m humbled to have a chance to try. If anyone has questions, comments, feedback, concerns, and/or suggested dad jokes, please email me at andy@payne.org.

Respectfully,

Andrew Payne, Tower Road

“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.

My Turn: Bodnar is running for reelection to Select Board

By Kim Bodnar

I’m excited to announce that I am seeking re-election to the Select Board. This role has been both humbling and energizing — every conversation, every late-night meeting, and every decision directly touches the lives of people who care deeply about Lincoln. I respectfully ask for your support as we continue this important work together.

Looking back on my three years on the Select Board, I’m reminded daily what a privilege it is to help shape the future of our town. Public service is demanding, but I couldn’t have anticipated how deeply rewarding this role would be. From the Council on Aging & Human Services’ (COA&HS) lunches and clinics, Coffee & Conversation gatherings to board meetings and informal chats around town, I deeply value the relationships that we have formed and am grateful residents feel comfortable sharing both their positive experiences and concerns about Lincoln.

Serving on the Select Board has deepened my appreciation for the complexity of our town’s challenges, from managing budgets and maintaining infrastructure to planning growth that preserves Lincoln’s character. I’ve also seen firsthand the dedication of our volunteers, committees, and staff —  their commitment is inspiring and a reminder that local government works best when we all pull together.

At its core, public service is about stewardship: listening closely, understanding the issues, balancing competing needs, and striving to make decisions in the community’s long-term interests. It requires hard work, integrity, commitment, and collaboration. I have approached this role with those values at the forefront, and I am proud of the progress we’ve made together.

Above all, my experience has shown me that public service is a partnership. Lincoln’s values emphasize collaboration and consensus, and because responsibility is shared across multiple boards, we accomplish the most when we work together. In that spirit, I am proud to have contributed to a number of important initiatives during my first term, including a year serving as chair of the Select Board, such as:

Town Meeting Study Committee — Helping the board define a charge and process that we are confident will lead to improvements that will ensure voter trust and confidence and enhance the effectiveness and engagement of Town Meeting.

Community Center Building Committee — Serving as the board’s liaison, helped the Committee clearly define and communicate program and budget choices for voters.

Lincoln 250th and Fair & Feast — Serving as chair of Lincoln250, leading the town’s planning for local events and celebrations commemorating the anniversary of the American Revolution; representing Lincoln in regional and statewide planning efforts in coordination with our public safety teams; collaborating with other Lincoln boards and community organizations on historical education initiatives; and chairing a committee-led effort to host the culminating community event, the Lincoln250 Fair and Feast.

Transportation Coalition —Acting as part of the Transportation Coalition’s leadership team, grateful to have been involved in many milestones over the past few years including; creating a five year plan for improving pedestrian and cyclist safety and connectivity, securing grants to install new sidewalks/paths and crosswalks, administering a resident survey, and hosting public forums.

Committee Liaisons — Serving as the Select Board liaison supporting 14 town boards and committees.

Select Board Priorities — As a team, the board and the town administrator are pleased to report progress on a number of important initiatives including completion of the landfill solar project; earning Commonwealth designation as a Climate Leader Community; securing multiple planning, infrastructure, climate, and other grants; and creating new ways to keep residents informed, including the recently launched semi-monthly electronic newsletter, SelectConnect.

Looking ahead, there is important work still to do — continuing strong fiscal discipline, improving our roads and infrastructure, advancing new climate initiatives and expanding transparency, and communication so residents feel engaged and heard. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and I would be honored to continue this work with you in a second term.

In closing, I’d welcome the chance to connect with residents who want to learn more about my work on the Select Board or share ideas for Lincoln. I’ll be following up with dates and times when I’ll be at the transfer station, Donelan’s, etc., but I hope you’ll also stop by Bemis Hall or join the Zoom meeting on February 24 beginning at 10:30am for “coffee and conversation” hosted by the COA&HS. Also, please don’t hesitate to reach out using the email addresses below — I’d be glad to meet or chat. As a reminder, our town election will be held on Monday, March 30, 2026.

Thank you for your consideration and for the honor of serving this community.

Respectfully,

Kim Bodnar, 11 Fox Run Road
Kimbodnar1007@gmail.com (personal) or bodnark@lincolntown.org (town)

“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.

My Turn: Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden won’t run again

By Sarah Cannon Holden

Dear Fellow Lincolnites,

It is time to hand over the gavel. In the past 15 years as your Town Moderator, I have learned a lot and weathered storms. Most important to me is the number of people I have met in this time. I have learned from you, from our extraordinary town staff, and from other town and school employees. I am enriched when I hear various perspectives on our town, and I am regularly reminded of the importance of community in our daily lives. I will not seek re-election in March 2026. This has not been an easy decision as I greatly enjoy the position even with the complexities.

Over the past 18 months I have served on the Town Meeting Study Committee (TMSC) where nine of us have explored the practices, challenges and time commitment of Town Meeting. We conducted a survey with the intent of hearing comments from the town on the process of Town Meeting. We have added clickers for most voting.  We have added a visible countdown clock for public comment. We are discussing a procedure for hearing from groups with alternative views from those presented by the town boards. We are urging increased use of the consent calendar in an effort to move consideration of motions along more efficiently. We have shared our diverse opinions and will submit our report to the Select Board in January.

Town Meeting is where we exercise our right to participate in the final stages of the legislative process of the town, but before that, participation in the early stages of town board and committee deliberations helps us understand the issues and also helps expedite Town Meeting. I will step down after our Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, March 28, 2026. It has been my great privilege and honor to have served the Lincoln community. I would be happy to try to answer questions from anyone who is thinking about running — or who just has some questions for me.

Lincoln’s Town Moderator is elected for a three year term and appoints members to the Finance Committee, the Capital Planning Committee, and the Personnel Board.

May there be peace during this holiday season and into the next year.

Sarah Cannon Holden
Weston Road

“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.

My Turn: Allen offers ideas on strengthening democracy, diminishing partisanship

By Barbara Slayter

On Saturday, Nov. 15, Danielle Allen, a renowned political scientist, professor, author, and activist for democracy, spoke to about 70 Lincoln residents at Bemis Hall on the topic of “Righting the Democratic Ship: Forging a Path for Positive Change.” Allen was the guest of the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee (LDTC) at a town hall open to all.

I had anticipated a presentation focusing on current dilemmas of the Democratic Party with strategies and tactics for winning a majority of seats in the U.S. Congress and even possibly capturing the presidency in 2028. No doubt Allen could have provided a host of recommendations and insights, but she chose instead to focus our attention on the big picture — our democracy with a small “d” — in which the electoral system captured by destructive party processes divides us, creates a legislature that doesn’t work, and undermines our capacities to govern ourselves effectively.

The analogy she used to describe America’s malfunctioning political institution is stark. America is like a bear with its paw caught in a trap, being attacked by hungry wolves while a wildfire is raging in the surrounding woods. The trap is our electoral system captured by party processes gone wrong. The wolves represent politicians trying to capture the bear for their own or their party’s gain. The wildfire is the turbulence fueled by globalization, technological transformation, climate change, unprecedented migration, and more.

Why can’t the bear get out of this trap? Allen asserted that the primary system for selecting candidates is at the heart of the problem. According to a recent Gallup poll, 28% of Americans consider themselves Republican, 28% Democrat, and 42% independent. In the context of gerrymandering and low voter turnout for primaries, the candidates of both our major parties are chosen by a small sliver of the population and have an incentive to appeal to their extreme positions rather than to work toward policies addressing the needs of a broad swath of citizens. In other words, 5-10% of the electorate determines the candidates during the primaries. The result is that Congress is totally polarized and can’t get anything done.

Allen offered some ideas for addressing these problems:

  • Abolish party primaries and have one all-party primary in the state, and
  • Lower the barriers to entry to new parties.

She noted that some states including Louisiana, California, Washington, and Alaska are already working on reforming electoral processes, such as having ranked choice voting in the first round of general primary voting. Massachusetts and Oklahoma have coalitions working on ballot initiatives to bring an all-party primary to their state with the two top vote-getters going on to the final round, she said. (Massachusetts is ranked last in democratic practices because we have the lowest primary participation and because 50% of the time there is only one person on the ballot.)

Allen urged us to get involved in this effort. In fact, she recommended that we rebalance our “democracy portfolio,” focusing not only on the candidates and issues of the upcoming elections, but also on the long-term structural problems defined as the trap — the electoral system — and how to escape it.

With that, Allen invited us all to join break-out groups with specific topics to discuss, including questions that will be on the 2026 ballot and policy initiatives that might have bipartisan support. I felt challenged by Professor Allen’s analysis of problems afflicting our beleaguered democracy and glad to be invited to think through some steps toward addressing them through reflection, debate, and analysis.

There were two other speakers as well. Kim Jalet, co-founder of Lincoln Witness, introduced this new Lincoln organization which provides information on immigration policies, as well as advocacy and support on behalf of immigrant communities facing harassment from ICE agents. Lara Sullivan, project manager for Stop Private Jet Expansion (SPJE) at Hanscom and Anywhere, spoke about efforts to protest the proposed expansion of Massport’s Hanscom Field.

For further information about Allen’s work on behalf of strengthening our democracy, both at the state and the national level, see The Renovator, a Substack for all who want to renovate America’s democracy. Allen is a founder of The Renovator.

The LDTC is planning to host two more town halls in the late winter and spring — the first focusing on immigration and due process and the second on health care policies.

Slayter, a Trapelo Road resident, is a member of the LDTC Executive Committee.

“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.