Deb Mauger For Selectman

January 2010

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

I am a candidate for one of the two open seats on the Lexington Board of Selectmen and I ask both for your vote on March 1 and your support of my campaign.

I am running for Selectman because I believe I can make an important contribution to our community. I greatly respect the work of our elected representatives, Town employees, and the many volunteers who make Lexington the special place it is. I can build on these traditions of good governance by helping to make decisions while striving for consensus in an open and honest manner.

Lexington has been more fortunate than many communities in coping with the current unsettling financial times. While some families have weathered the storm without difficulty, others have had to tighten their belts and defer some plans, and some of us are really struggling. And many of us are one layoff or one medical diagnosis away from severe financial distress. Given these realities, our challenge is to make the tough decisions to preserve our public services while planning for a more prosperous future.

I have the leadership skills and experience to work collaboratively and to seek and listen to all viewpoints in order to make these difficult decisions. I have a professional background in finance and administration and have managed budgets larger than that of Lexington. I am experienced at seeking consensus, having worked for many years with faculty at a graduate school of administration.

My husband, Stew Kennedy, and I are 24-year residents of Lexington. After retiring in 2000, Stew became an active volunteer and showed me how rewarding it was to participate in our civic life. When I retired in 2005, I also took the opportunity to become more fully engaged in our community. I became active in the League of Women Voters of Lexington and have been its recent President. My experience with the League has further deepened my understanding of local issues, and renewed my commitment to civil discourse and community volunteerism.

My goals as Selectman include:

• - Supporting open government by increasing communication and collaboration amongst various Town committees, elected representatives, employees, and the community;
• - Continuing to focus on longer-term planning for operating and capital budgeting, for land use, and for public service needs assessment for all generations;
• - Protecting our current resources, in particular, the use or disposal of our public land and buildings.

Together we can address the challenges that confront us by preparing for an uncertain future, protecting our current resources and services, and positioning ourselves to prosper when the economy does improve.

This is a contested election and I need your help. Please fill out the form provided to join us in my campaign. Thank you.