Select Board Candidate Spotlights
Carleton “Toby” Burr – Select Board
My name is Toby Burr, and I seek election to the Marion Select Board.
I have lived in town for 44 years with my wife Barbie. We raised two children on Ichabod Lane, and they each now own homes in Marion, so I get to see my grandchildren play in places I played as a child. I feel very lucky.
My family has been in Marion for four generations because it is a great place to work and raise a family. For 40 years, I worked at Burr Brothers Boats, a family-owned business. Now I am retired, and my son Tucker is at the helm.
Public service has always been an important part of my life. I was on the Marine Resources Commission for over 30 years. In 2022, I was elected to the Select Board. Serving on the Select Board is a big commitment, and when I first joined four years ago, there was a lot to learn. When it came time for re-election, I felt very comfortable stepping aside and letting somebody new with a fresh perspective have a turn. I think that that person has done a very good job.
Now, after a sabbatical, I’m ready to return with valuable experience. If elected, I’ll bring the advantage of already knowing the job, which allows me to hit the ground running and serve more effectively. I also have a clear vision for our town: I want to see more state aid and less state control, along with greater public input and participation in local decisions.
We have affordability issues. Our sewer is the most expensive in the state. Housing costs have risen to absurd levels, and young people starting out as well as seniors downsizing are priced out. Our town government cannot just pass costs onto taxpayers who are having their own troubles keeping up.
I want to work with the Massachusetts Municipal Association, and our state representative, and our state senator and other towns in the state, to stop the state from giving us more mandates, and get the state to help us pay for the burden they’ve already put on us.
I want to broaden the tax base by encouraging small businesses. We have empty buildings at Tedeschi’s, Marion Sport Shop, Lockheed Martin and The General Store. I want to see them filled up. I want to make it easy for businesses to move in and help us with the tax burden. Businesses provide goods and services, create jobs, and help foster our town character.
I hope to work on building a consensus on harbor management, Marine Resources and Island Wharf parking. Island Wharf is the public access to Sippican Harbor. We need to have consensus for what we want from the Harbor Department. Once we have that consensus, everything else will fall into place.
Please vote for me, please, on Friday, May 15, and I will do my best to help Marion be an affordable place to live and work.
Norman Hills – Select Board
It’s Marion election time again. The only contested position this year is for the Select Board. I am running again, bringing nine years of direct experience as a Board member. That nine years is backed up by 22 years of experience as a member of six other Marion boards or committees and Marion’s representative on two regional committees. This is backed by 43 years of management and leadership positions in government and private industry.
Residents should be proud of the recent above-ground infrastructure improvements highlighted by the new Harbormaster and DPW buildings and the renovations at the Town House. The multi-year Pavement Management Plan for road and sidewalk improvements is underway.
The aging, underground, wastewater collection piping infrastructure is a different story. Some Inflow and Infiltration problems have been addressed by lining some of the pipes. More may be lined, but some must be replaced. We are planning for our most immediate challenge, the EPA-mandated Phosphorus upgrade to the Wastewater plant, which will start next year. Concurrently, we are negotiating with MassDEP/EPA to increase our discharge rate so that we can implement Comprehensive Waste Management Plan improvements. These improvements combined with new housing production will increase the number of users, spreading the costs. I will note that there are two bills at the State Legislature that, if approved, would establish a Southeast Wastewater Financing Commission to help us fund these improvements. Regionalization of our wastewater system with Wareham was proposed in the past but has proven to be much more expensive than Marion initiating Comprehensive Waste Management Plan improvements on its own. The state recognized this, which is why we have to make the Phosphorus upgrade.
Water supply is not a problem even with some wells offline. What may become a problem could be the state restricting our withdrawal rate due to drought conditions.
Residents are encouraged to attend board/committee meetings addressing subjects that are of interest to them. The state Open Meeting Law requirements are specifically focused on ensuring transparency and accountability in town-government activities. Town employees and boards/committees are there to help and are always open to comments and suggestions.
My town knowledge is extensive and detailed. My experience is unmatched in this election.
George “T.J.” Walker – Select Board
I’ve lived in Marion with my wife Kelly and family for 40 years. I’ve participated on the Planning Board and Board of Assessors, (19 years of elected service), so I am very familiar with how town government works. I also have a law degree, so I understand and respect the rule of law. I have managed businesses in the hospitality and maritime fields for many years, so I am very experienced in prioritizing issues, searching for cost efficiencies, solving problems collaboratively with stakeholders and getting things done.
What makes me different from the other two worthy candidates running for Select Board? Both of them have been elected Select Board members in the past. They have both had the chance to demonstrate to you, their problem solving and leadership skills, their transparency and accountability, their fiscal discipline, and their willingness to insist that your decisions are prioritized and respected.
The results from their past service illustrate that they have been content to put band-aids on town problems, bury them, or postpone them when problems arise. That’s why we currently are facing crumbling roads and sidewalks; water and sewer rates among the highest in the state, a total lack of affordable housing, especially for seniors; an accounting practice of underestimating town revenue, to increase taxes, ensuring “free cash” at fiscal year end.
Here’s why I’m different from the other two candidates:
I want to seek answers from the Town Administrator and Select Board about these issues. That’s not being aggressive or meddlesome or exhibiting personality clashes – voters have a right to know – it’s about putting good government principles above personalities. I passionately believe in transparent government, community engagement, fiscal discipline, and economic growth. I believe the voters deserve to know how I feel on the issues and how I intend to work collaboratively to address our needs.
Affordable Housing: I will suggest the possibility of relocating the Fire Station on Spring Street, to Route 6. Its current location is in a dangerous spot between two schools. Possibly using that site could encourage building an affordable senior housing alternative on Spring Street.
Water/Sewer Rates:I will serve as a voice to explore regionalization with neighboring communities to reduce costs, address infrastructure inefficiencies, and provide meaningful relief to our residents.
Island Wharf Issue: I want to ensure public access is respected, but does not use treasured parkland for paved parking, does not move the bandstand, and does not interfere with the existing swale which filters water entering the harbor. I’d encourage a collaborative attempt to work with neighbors on a win-win solution.
Maintenance/Repair of Town Infrastructure:I will press to have a cost-effective fiscal PLAN that does NOT postpone known problems, but deals with them, even incrementally, at the time the problems arise or are identified.
Fiscal Discipline/Accountability:I will insist on transparent budgeting. I will recommend the establishment of an audit committee with community input, to provide time-sensitive oversight of financial reporting and internal controls, review the annual town audit, etc. Some South Coast communities already have such committees.
Together, we can build a stronger community and make a difference! If you want your Select Board and Town Administrator to inform you thoroughly, to seek your input, to welcome your participation, to find creative and collaborative solutions, to implement your decisions and to be accountable to you, I promise to do just that and I respectfully ask you to vote for me.
Marion Town Election
ORR School Committee Candidate Spotlights
Katharine McAuley – ORR School Committee
Despite wearing many hats throughout my life, the one I can unequivocally say I am most proud of is that of a parent. With children in the ORR school system, the primary reason I am running for School Committee is that I have an informed and vested interest in what happens now and in the future.
Graduating with a Bachelor’s in Mathematics from Stonehill College, I continued my education, earning a Master’s in Public Administration and a Master’s in Teaching from Northeastern University. I recently completed a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Liberty University. This is complemented by graduate specialist certificates, multiple educator licenses, and an innate desire to be a student of my profession. My own education, coupled with experience working in the field of education for the better part of two decades in various capacities, provides me with a strong understanding of the profession and the challenges facing today’s schools. Our district deserves steady, knowledgeable leadership from the school committee with a clear focus on what matters most – students.
I am committed to ensuring our district gets the fundamentals right – high-quality instruction, strong academic and behavioral standards, and support for every student to succeed. This includes ensuring transparency, maintaining a strong fiduciary responsibility, and making thoughtful, responsible decisions to help move our schools forward together.
Our current schools build our future communities. What kind of community do we want?
Margaret McSweeny – ORR School Committee
Incumbent Margaret McSweeny is seeking a third term as the Marion representative on the ORR School Committee. First elected in 2020, she helped the district successfully navigate the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With over 18 years of experience in education and a master’s degree in the field, McSweeny brings a seasoned educator’s perspective to the committee. She is seeking re-election because she believes “there is still vital work to be done, and I have the experience and drive to see it through.”
Beyond her duties on the ORR and Joint committees, McSweeny serves as the Policy Subcommittee Chair and the Vice Chairperson of the Tri-Town Education Foundation Fund. She is also an active member of the Equity Subcommittee. She notes that serving on the ORR School Committee requires significant “behind-the-scenes” work, demanding a commitment to long hours on the various subcommittees and a collaborative spirit with fellow members and administrators.
“My goal remains constant,” she said. “To ensure every decision prioritizes student achievement and well-being, upholds our community values, and aligns with our long-term district goals.”
Regarding the issues facing the Old Rochester Regional School District, McSweeny identifies the budget as a primary concern. “Like many public-school districts across Massachusetts, Old Rochester is at a financial turning point,” she explained. “While the FY2026 budget increases Chapter 70 aid by 6.7% to $7.36 billion, this increase does not fully offset sustained inflationary pressures or the 4.5% cap on Chapter 70 funding. With the rising costs of transportation, utilities, and health insurance, our district must bridge a widening gap. This reality necessitated this year’s budget increase, and continued collaboration with our towns and advocacy at the state level remain essential.”
McSweeny acknowledges that, if she is re-elected, hard work lies ahead. However, she knows that the effort is worth it. “The quality of our schools directly determines the quality of our investment in future generations.”