Letters to the editor
Please note: The Townsman does not publish election-related letters or columns the week before an election.
Markey shows strength and courage
Although Sen. Markey has received a lot of press coverage for his support of the Green New Deal, another area of his interest that is important to all of us is the nuclear test ban.
In the 1980s, then-Rep. Markey presented to Congress the results of technology showing that Russian nuclear tests could be monitored by our scientists.
His support of a nuclear test ban was in contrast to presidents Reagan and HW Bush and represents, to me, his strength and courage as one who is not afraid to take an unpopular position in pursuit of an important long-term goal.
Lloyd Tarlin
Seaver Street
The timing is right for Colette Aufranc to join BOS
If ever there was someone ready to fill a vacancy on a town board, it’s Colette Aufranc to fill the vacancy on our Board of Selectmen. Colette’s education is just what is needed at this time in our community with her background in finance.
She’s been volunteering for so many years in Wellesley and most of them have been in the role of treasurer, as well as soliciting bids for PTOs in town, and seeking bids from software providers for PTOs.
Colette Aufranc was a neighborhood advocate re the development of Linden Square, resulting in a good outcome for the neighborhood and the town.
Since March 2018 Colette has been a strong voice, with participation, as a Town Meeting Member.
Colette was appointed as a member to the town’s Audit Committee in March 2018, then served as Secretary and recently nominated as its chair. The Audit Committee consists of five residents appointed by town moderators with financial expertise.
Colette Aufranc has been a Wellesley resident for 22 years and has been involved in so many boards and committees and with her personal background and experience, I’m excited to vote for her on Sept. 1 and hope you will, too. The timing is right for Colette Aufranc to be a strong addition to our Board of Selectmen!
Mary Bowers, lifelong Wellesley resident
Waterstone community
Precinct D
Wellesley should send Jesse Mermell to Congress
Amidst a global pandemic and a heated Senate primary, the race for the 4th Congressional District may be the last thing on our minds. But given the eight-person Democratic primary coming up on Sept. 1, it’s time we start paying attention. With such a strong field, I was initially overwhelmed when choosing who to support. However, after much consideration, one candidate stood out to me because of her reliable leadership and transparency: Jesse Mermell.
Time and time again, Jesse has proven that she is the real deal through her leadership in both the private and the public sectors. Serving as the youngest member of the Brookline Select Board and a senior aide to Gov. Patrick, she has a deep understanding of public policy. As the president of the Alliance for Business Leadership, executive director of the nonprofit FairTest, and vice president for external affairs at Planned Parenthood, Jesse has led on a wide range of issues. This depth and breadth of knowledge make Jesse well-equipped to tackle anything that comes her way in Congress.
Jesse’s supporters similarly reflect the broad coalition she is building, touting endorsements from 100 local leaders and 21 unions, some of the most notable being Attorney General Maura Healey, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, the Massachusetts Teachers Association and Planned Parenthood. In such a crowded race, this feat is even more impressive.
However, while her leadership and policy plans excite me, what strikes me the most about Jesse is her transparency. She was the first candidate to release her tax returns and called upon her opponents to do the same. Additionally, in a race full of self-funders and corporate PACs, Jesse’s campaign has been a truly grassroots effort. In a time when politicians can seem notoriously self-serving, Jesse’s honesty and dignity is a breath of fresh air.
Overall, I am voting for Jesse Mermell because I think she is the most honest, broadly experienced candidate who has shown what she stands for through her actions, not just her words. I encourage Wellesley to do the same on Sept. 1.
Abby Nicholson
Hawthorne Road
Support Gwen Baker for Board of Selectmen
If you are tired of the same old local politics in Wellesley and would like a fresh new approach in the selectman’s office, consider casting your vote for the successful Wellesley business woman, Gwen Baker on Sept. 1.
Ms. Baker believes that Wellesley should be run like a business, providing excellent services at reasonable costs and lower taxes.
Gwen Baker, a 27-year resident of Wellesley, and a self-made business woman, has created a family business and believes that deficit spending is not a reality in business and that increasing taxes on the back of senior citizens and other taxpayers is not the only way of providing the vital services Wellesley residents need and expect from our town government.
Pete Jones
Halsey Avenue
Odessa Sanchez — an important new voice for Board of Selectmen
We enthusiastically support Odessa Sanchez for a six-month term on the Board of Selectmen. Since we first met Odessa at our church five years ago, we have developed a deepening friendship, appreciation for her many endearing qualities and respect for her courage and forthrightness.
We believe Odessa would be an effective selectman for three reasons in particular.
First, Odessa would bring a unique and valuable perspective to the myriad issues brought to the board. As an African-American woman whose life experiences have given her wisdom, compassion and grit, she is able to speak for those whose voices are often not part of the conversation — including the elderly, children and those with limited means.
Second, Odessa is a “people” person who engages others with a ready smile and genuine desire to listen to their concerns. Patient and tolerant, Odessa carefully considers all sides of an issue before deciding on a course of action. She embraces opportunities to forge relationships with people from a broad range of backgrounds and a diverse range of views. Once a plan is formed, she has unwavering optimism and energy to see her efforts through to completion. This is evident in her varsity coaching and in her work to empower young people, especially girls. These interpersonal skills endow her with unique capability to build new bridges in town as a selectman.
Third, Odessa has financial common sense. Budget concerns are part of every aspect of the board’s decision-making, including our schools, housing, small businesses and more. Odessa is proud of the fact that she balances a family budget and knows how to stretch a dollar. She understands the sacrifices needed to ensure that everyone gets their fair share.
You may have seen Odessa’s signs around town and perhaps you have seen her in public spaces, eager to meet each one of you. Odessa’s positive voice matters and she wants to ensure that your voice matters, too. As she says, “It is my time. This is what I am called to do!”
Please vote for Odessa Sanchez — an important new voice for our town government.
Svea and Scott Fraser
Stearns Road
Please vote for Colette Aufranc for the Board of Selectmen
Please join us in voting for Colette Aufranc for Board of Selectmen (BOS) at the Special Election on Sept. 1. There is no one more qualified or better prepared for this role than Colette.
We have the pleasure of knowing Colette for years and have worked extensively with her as she served as the PTO treasurer at Sprague Elementary School, the PTSO president at Wellesley High School and as a Town Meeting Member. In each of these roles, Colette was always prepared and extremely organized. To prepare for any meeting, Colette extensively researches issues and studies background information, seeks input from various invested parties and works collaboratively to develop solutions. Furthermore, Colette is always approachable, easy to work with, open to different perspectives and has a great sense of humor.
For the past two years, Colette has been a member of the Town Audit Committee and was recently nominated as chair. The Audit Committee oversees the audit of all of the town’s financial statements and reports. Clearly, serving on this committee has been excellent preparation for serving on the BOS.
Colette spent considerable time weighing her decision to run for the Board of Selectmen. For the past year, Colette attended or watched all of the BOS meetings. She has spent months speaking with town leaders to understand the role and learn what is required. She has studied the issues and challenges facing Wellesley. For this reason, Colette not only brings an immense amount of experience and preparation to the BOS but she will hit the ground running.
We cannot think of a better candidate to serve on the Board of Selectman than Colette. Please join us in voting for Colette Aufranc on Sept. 1.
Rebecca Cahaly
Wall Street
Eunice Groark
Summit Road
Mason Smith
Emerson Road
Support Gwen Baker, candidate for selectman
Gwen Baker is an outstanding candidate for selectman who has a leadership style, perfected by her business and life skills, during which she has raised her family and established her small business.
With her proficiency in finance and insurance, she offers a wonderful capacity of carrying out a critical duty of being a member of the Board of Selectmen. This ability is particularly vital, given the fiscal challenges we all now face.
Wellesley is at a crossroads. Our town is facing major challenges, from balancing budgets and stabilizing property taxes to preserving our core community values, our schools and our town services.
As a small businessman myself, I know the difficulties of the process and as a former selectman, what is needed to be a successful representative for the citizens of our town.
In her business life she has learned how to build relationships to get things accomplished and completed. Now by using such a background, I am glad that we can elect Gwen Baker to become more deeply involved in our local government and to help ensure value for our tax dollars.
For the over 25 years she has both lived here raising her family and running her business. She has had to balance her budgets and make a profit. Now resulting in a success that allows the opportunity for the business to be run by her two married sons.
Make sure you get a separate ballot for the Sept. 1 Wellesley Special Town Election, held at the same time as the state primary and either go to (in most cases your new polling place) on Sept. 1 or apply for and receive an absentee ballot or vote early.
But, wherever you vote, please join me in voting for Gwen Baker for the Board of Selectmen.
Roy Switzler
Oakridge Road
She has the science credentials to get us through this pandemic and the global policy experience to lead us forward on the other side of it
We all have a lot on our minds but I am writing to encourage you to take some time to learn more about Dr. Natalia Linos, who is running for the U.S. Congress (D-4th).
With the emergence of COVID-19, we are now experiencing firsthand the devastating intersection between our economy, our health, social inequities and a warming planet. We need someone in Washington who will ensure our government decision-making is grounded in science and equity and uses fact based reasoning.
Natalia stands out from the other candidates running for this important seat because she is committed to advancing public health, social equity and climate action. She has experience listening, working and persuading governments around the world to take action. In addition, she advocates for the Green New Deal and a green COVID-19 recovery.
This epidemiologist, three-time Harvard graduate and dedicated human rights activist with a global perspective has the unique experience and thoughtfulness we need in this country now. Her credentials include working for the United Nations and fighting the opioid crisis working in Mayor Bill DeBlasio’s NYC Health Department. She is currently the executive director of the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard.
To see what I mean, you can read her COVID-19 Response and Recovery Plan at https://bit.ly/3g3OFKd and/or ask her anything during her DAILY virtual meet and greets (all of this information is on her website http://nataliaforcongress.com).
You have the opportunity to send Dr. Linos to Washington. Don’t let us see the serious costs of inaction. Let someone with health and science credentials get us through this pandemic and the global policy experience to lead us forward on the other side of it.
Vote via mail — email the Town Clerk’s office today to get your ballot by emailing them here: Elections@wellesleyma.gov; or review the Town Clerk’s office website to learn where and when you can vote in person on Sept. 1, if that is your preferred method.
Phyllis Theermann
Aberdeen Road
Re-elect Ed Markey
We are the generation who stood up and walked out for common sense gun reform. We are the generation who rallied and striked for meaningful action on climate change. We are the generation who cast our first ballots in the 2018 midterm elections, sending record numbers of women, people of color and political outsiders to Washington. We are the generation who knows it’s time to re-elect Ed Markey to the U.S. Senate.
Here in Wellesley, our organizing team is strong — and it’s also full of us young people. Some of us are still in college and high school and some have just graduated; we spend our weeknights calling our networks to tell everyone why we are sticking with Ed and why they should too. We know that when it comes to the age of your ideas, Ed is the young person’s candidate.
Sen. Markey has been a climate champion for his whole life. When he co-authored the Green New Deal, he took the debate on environmental action to the national stage and fought to include social justice and anti-racism in conversations about environmental justice.
Ed Markey agrees with us that we cannot build a fair future without confronting the generational inequalities caused by systemic racism in the U.S. He has called for an end to qualified immunity, which allows police officers to act without consequence. He also co-sponsored Sen. Booker’s commission to study reparations, the only reparations bill in the Senate.
Ed Markey is laying the building blocks for a stronger future, while his opponent is running on the past. As young people, we are proud to stand by our senator for reelection because he’s the candidate with our best interests at heart. We hope you do too.
Adam Shoulkin
Montvale Road
William Cramer
Laurel Avenue
Mary Fulham
Windsor Road
Sam Steen
Cavanaugh Road
Olivia Gieger
Dover Road
Daniel Song
Dunedin Road