Editor’s note: The Wanderer invited candidates in contested races (more candidates than open seats) to write up to 350 words explaining their candidacy. Questions submitted by the League of Women Voters South Coast helped provide talking points for the candidates. Five candidates are running for three open seats on the Marion Planning Board, including incumbent Andrew Daniel (current vice chairman). The entries are presented in alphabetical order:
Tucker Burr – Marion Planning Board
I’ve been living and working in Marion for almost my entire life. I grew up on Ichabod Lane, waited for the Sippican School bus, attended Tabor Academy, and then went off to college and got a degree in mathematics. I briefly worked out west before I returned home 12 years ago to work in the family business. I met my wife, Luiza, here in Marion, while sailing. We have a black lab named Gus and a house on Olde Knoll Road. My life is in Marion. I love this town.
The unaffordability of housing in Marion should be at the forefront of the Planning Board. When I first moved back here there were no apartments available and so I rented in New Bedford. When I did manage to find an apartment in Marion, I was forced out after only a year when it was torn down for condos. I imagine this is a similar experience for those looking to downsize. Marion has a wonderful inventory of family sized houses but not many other options. For those that cannot yet afford and those on a fixed income, staying in the community is a terrible challenge. The Planning Board can help address this issue by encouraging many different types of housing developments so people in different stages of life and circumstances can stay here.
In running Burr Brothers Boats for the past three years, I have experience organizing the operation to get things done. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, is the experience I have working for many years in the customer service department. The culture of the Planning Board needs to be a professional one but, in a small town like ours, it must also be welcoming and kind. Going in front of the Planning Board should be an efficient and well understood process. I look forward to bringing a level of professionalism, organization and approachability to the meetings.
Ensuring this town is a place that future generations will want to move back to and work in is a goal that is near and dear to me.
Andrew Daniel – Marion Planning Board
I moved to Marion 13 years ago and have served on the Planning Board the past six. As Rochester’s facilities manager and a former residential/commercial builder, I bring experience, can read plans, and visualize a project. I consider myself to be fair and my goal is always to do what’s best for all of Marion.
I serve on the Friends of Marion Recreation Committee and the Marion ADA Committee and was the board’s representative to the Community Preservation Committee. I am married with three children, whom we are fortunate to raise here. My wife Nichole, a Dartmouth teacher, serves on the Marion and Joint school committees. For seven years I’ve served on the Old Rochester Youth Baseball board and coached. I was also active in Marion Cub Scouts.
I joined the Planning Board because I didn’t see a level playing field for all applicants. I no longer have a business and am not a Tabor Academy graduate. My goal is to treat every applicant fairly and adhere to Marion’s bylaws. The job of the Planning Board should never be to inject personal feelings but to see if a case conforms to the bylaws that were voted by the townspeople. From the largest entity in town to smallest candy shop, I want to promote smart business growth that benefits the tax base and serves the people. I’ve found it rewarding to eat, drink, and buy locally from groceries to my new truck. I support local businesses because they donate and sponsor youth sports and activities and community events.
I think the current board’s diversity benefits the town. Each member brings a unique view to the table. We don’t always agree but have found ways to work through each application respectfully and advance Marion’s Master Plan. We need more residents to get involved in all levels of town government, and I look forward to what any new board members will offer. Our biggest challenge is our current wastewater treatment plant, as subdivisions and housing projects stress our limited infrastructure, schools, and emergency services. Thank You.
Tom Friedman – Marion Planning Board
My name is Tom Friedman and I am proud to announce my candidacy for a seat on the Marion Planning Board. I am presently a member of the Energy Management Committee and previously served on the wastewater committee. I moved to Marion in 1996 with little knowledge of the south coast region or the town. It didn’t take long to realize that Marion is a special place, due in large part to the numerous volunteers who commit their time and efforts to supporting our community. Now it’s my turn to contribute.
If elected, my goal is to: 1. Provide thoughtful consideration of proposals submitted to the Planning Board through the lens of existing bylaws, rules and regulations; 2. Consider how the town can respond to new and ongoing challenges such as pandemics, sea-level rise and growth, while maintaining Marion’s character; 3. Strive to ensure that our children will have an equally wonderful (or better) town in which to raise their families; 4. Serve as a conduit for your opinions and concerns regarding the evolution of Marion.
I respectfully ask for your vote, but more importantly urge you to make time to elect your representatives in the May 14 election. Thank you.
Jonathan Henry – Marion Planning Board
I am running because of the long-standing vacancy on the board, and I can sense it was tough for them to get their business done in an orderly manner. No applications were taken out with only two weeks to the deadline, the positions are too important to be left vacant. Town business is left hampered that way.
I have 27 years in the military in engineering and owned a family business since that has been running since 1895. I have experience in regional planning as a 15-year member of the Southeastern Regional Economic Development District and was SRPEDD chair for six years. I am a founding member of Marion’s Affordable Housing Trust, served in the Marion Fire Department for 35 years and am a graduate of the National Fire Academy.
I would like to help establish a local grant program for repairs to homes owned by seniors, especially veterans. I want to see three years of initiatives to create prioritized town goals for seniors, and I would like to see grants put in place for seniors to apply for. Although veterans are covered by grants that can be made to the Veterans Administration for repairs to their dwellings, these grants are competitive and can be difficult to obtain. I would authorize accessory apartments beyond the current bylaw that limits access to family members. Some kind of flexibility should be built into how many dwellings can be put on a parcel. It can’t be rigidly structured.
How do you generate more interest in people serving in public office? Don’t tell them how much time it takes.
My first priority in improving the town’s financial management is separate the town accountant, the financial director, and the assistant town manager. The are other ways to redirect the load.
If I had $1,000,000 to spend, I would go to the Capital Improvement Planning Committee because I think it would be capital and not operational. Thank you.
Alanna Nelson – Marion Planning Board
Marion needs all hands on deck, which is why I’m running for the Planning Board. The 2017 Marion Master Plan identifies more than 15 goals and dozens of strategies led by the Planning Board that aim to keep our town special, address needs of our residents, and protect property and infrastructure from environmental changes. With several development proposals on the horizon, our Planning Board must review these projects according to the zoning bylaws in a cooperative, respectful manner.
With an M.S. in Recreation and Tourism Planning and hands-on experience with state and local governments, I am comfortable working in a regulatory setting that is transparent and responsive to a range of concerns. As a current member of the Energy Management Committee, I am the Marion representative to the Cape and Vineyard Electricity Cooperative. Since last summer, I’ve followed the Planning Board’s activities and studied our bylaws as an informed citizen. I’ve also taken trainings and studied guidance available through the Massachusetts Citizen Planner Training Cooperative.
Currently working as a marketing consultant, I am also a fiber artist. My husband and I are avid sailors who value Marion’s quality of life. Those who know me say Alanna is an open minded, even-keeled crew member and a sharp lookout.
I am asking Marion voters to choose Alanna Nelson on May 14 for one of the two Planning Board positions. Please visit alannanelson.com/marionplanning to learn more about me or to ask questions and share your perspectives.