THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, OCTObEr 27, 2023 Page 11 ~ Political Announcement ~ Fisher seeks Charter Commission seat and reelection to School Committee M y name is Ryan Fisher. I’m a lifelong Saugus resident, running for my third term on the School Committee and as a candidate for charter commission. My wife Danielle and I have a seven year old daughter, Ella, and a lot of cats. Serving your town isn’t about vague or empty promises. It’s about track record and character. The last four years have proven that no one who is elected will know exactly the challenges they’ll face. Look at the pandemic. No one asked me about plagues when I ran the first time. I don’t rattle easily. I take the time and do the work. I build consensus. I’m not a showboat trying to be popular. I speak my mind. I’m proud of the progress our school district made in the district over the last four years. We’ve funded all day kindergarten, overseen the consolidation of school buildings, funded expanded access to bussing and improved curriculum, and protected after school programs. Teachers and paras and support staff have incredibly challenging jobs, and they are only getting harder. I’m proud to have negotiated two contracts with each bargaining unit that help retain and value qualified educators, and those who keep our schools running every day. We still have a long way to go. I’m concerned about safety, about discipline, and with my own daughter planning to attend the MSHS complex, I want to see high achievement and challenging standards. I’m genuinely concerned about the charter commission process, elected to turn Saugus into a city with an elected mayor. The charter should be impervious to politics and not be about settling day to day scores. Residents rejected becoming a city, so the promise changed to electing the town manager. Towns can’t do that and experts say the state won’t approve it. In the last week, we’ve all noticed a concerted effort to disparage Town Meeting, the heart of town government. One candidate says he’s open minded to becoming a city, others focus heavily on “elect the leader” rhetoric, and one organized the process around a run for mayor. When people tell you what they’ll do if elected, believe them. I was vocal in my announcement two years ago, and I’m equally vocal today, that public officials speak for the town, their words have meaning, and everyone, especially our students are listening. I’ll continue to keep that promise, and I would appreciate your vote on Nov. 7th. Costello seeks fourth TM term in Precinct 10 M y name is Martin Costello and I have been a resident in Precinct 10 for over 30 years now, where I reside at 18 Bristow Street in that precinct. I am 74 years old and have been married to my wife, Dorothy for 45 years. We have one daughter, Karen. I am a Vietnam era veteran, having served honorably in the United States Air Force as an aircraft mechanic. I am now retired after working for 40 years as an HVAC mechanic in the Building Department of the John Hancock Insurance Company in Boston. I have been on Town Meeting now since 2018 (3 terms) and my attendance would be in the 90 percentile range as whenever I was absent, on those few occasions, it was due to either a family emergency or that I was on a scheduled vacation. During my time at Town Meeting, I have advocated for a number of issues facing Precinct 10, chiefly amongst them the definitive need for closure of the Win/Waste incinerator over there in Rumney Marsh. There are also issues with some problematical properties in Precinct 10 that are languishing in neglect and as such, creating public health hazards and this needs to be addressed. I was involved, along with my colleagues in Precinct 10 on the future determination for the old Ballard School that presently exists there as well as the eventual completion of new sidewalks on Lincoln Avenue from Cogliano Plaza to Ballard Street. This issue is but one of a number of sidewalk issues that I have been aware of Whittredge seeks to reclaim School Committee seat M y name is Thomas Whittredge, I am seeking a seat on the Saugus School Committee. I was born and raised in Saugus. I was married for 17 years to my wife, Theresa Whittredge, who passed away in 2021 after a long battle with Breast cancer. We bought a home here in 2001 and we have 2 beautiful kids, a Son who is 15 and a sophomore at SHS and a Daughter who is 8 and is in the 3rd grade at Belmonte Steam Academy. I attended Saugus schools k-8 and went to Northeast Regional - for high school. I attended Bunker Hill CC and I am currently enrolled at Boston University for Facilities Management. I was first elected to the School Committee in 2019 and was twice elected as Chairman. I served on the Committee until May of 2022, when I stepped down from my position to be with my kids after my wife had lost her battle with Breast Cancer. My Daughter was born with a rare syndrome and also has autism. She has the purest of hearts and has taught me what resilience and unconditional love is all about. It’s been 17 months since I’ve been off the Committee. Since that time off with my children, I feel I am ready and more confident than ever that I can help bring this district back to being a well-respected one. After seeing my kids lose their Mom, it taught me that there are no bad days, just a chance to make a better one. Thomas Whittredge (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) That’s the approach I will bring to the students, faculty, staff and families of this district. I hope you’ll consider me for one of your votes on November 7th. since my time on Town Meeting. As to my position on the Charter issue, I believe that Saugus should remain as a Town, I say this because I believe that for all the residents of Saugus, Town Meeting is the best choice for them as to their representation at Town Hall as well as for the fiscal well being of the Town of Saugus going forward! It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the residents of Precinct 10 as one of their Town Meeting members and I sincerely ask for their vote on Election Day, NovemMartin Costello (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) ber 7th! Thank you. Martin Costello Saugus Town Meeting Precinct 10 Steve Doherty Announces Candidacy for Town Charter Commission and ReElection to Precinct 4 Town Meeting T his is an important election year in Saugus. In addition to the possible formation of a Commission to review our Town Charter, there is a broad field of candidates seeking election to most every elected position in town. This is a tremendous opportunity for you, as a voter, to help shape the future of Saugus on November 7th. I’m Steve Doherty and I’ve been honored to represent Precinct 4 for the past 12 years and serve as Town Moderator for the past decade. In that time, we’ve seen a new High School built, some major changes to our town’s zoning regulations to encourage smart growth and expand our tax base and we’ve seen our town’s stabilization fund grow and our bond rating increase significantly, resulting in huge savings to taxpayers on current and future School Committee Member Ryan Fisher (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) Town Moderator Steve Doherty (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) borrowing. But there’s more work to be done and, with your support, I’d like to continue moving Saugus in the right direction and improving the local quality of life for all of us. Please consider me for one of your 5 votes for Town Meeting in precinct 4 and one of your 9 votes for Charter Commission. Thank You.
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