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Position: Seeking Re-election to the Middleborough Board of Selectmen

Background: I have lived in Middleboro all but 6 years of my life. I served on the Middleboro Gas & Electric Commission for 9 years and now have the position of Selectman.

Education: A Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and an M.B.A. from Suffolk University.

Professional Background: Senior Manager, Product Marketing for a Fortune 100 company

Reason for seeking re-election: To continue the work done over the past several year to help Middleboro build a sustaining revenue stream without burdening the citizens of Middleborough with additional taxes.

Commentary:

When someone 1st runs for selectman they can run on what the person currently holding the office did not accomplish.

But when you run for re-election you have to run on your balanced performance.

I ask you to measure me and your decision to vote for me (or not) on my balanced performance.

Are you more happy than upset that I helped save the town in excess of a quarter million dollars having the Police Chief also be the Fire Chief?

Are you more happy than upset that the tax rate was held the same?

Are you more happy than upset that I did not support the Community Preservation Act which would have been an additional tax added to your Real Estate bill? Yet we protected open space such as the Freitas farm and the Gibbs property on Thompson Street.

Are you more happy than upset that I did not support any overrides which would have cost people more of their hard earned money?

Are you more happy than upset that I took my time to find the right Town Manager even when that meant going through the process twice?

Are you more happy than upset that we have Sapphire Engineering moving its headquarters and manufacturing to Middleborough and bringing quality jobs with them?

Are you more happy than upset that I did not sell any additional water resources to other communities? Resources that could have been used against us to attract businesses to those communities vs. Middleborough. And clearly resources that were not priced to make money for Middleboro.

And were you more happy than upset that we entered into the agreement with the Wampanoag nation? An agreement that will give us10 years of new economic growth revenue in one year. $ 7 million that I have stated I want to put the majority of towards the school system to get class sizes down. Bringing the class sizes down without increasing property taxes or having an override.

Are you more happy than upset with the response from Town employees and their interaction with you?

Are you more happy than upset, that while very difficult, I have worked to try and get healthcare cost and other concessions from Town employees while giving only nominal raises? And since the economic meltdown are you more happy than upset that I have voted against raises?

As town employees (current or retired) are you more happy than upset, that I've tried to make sure that in these tough economic times and the constant reductions in budgets that I've treated you with respect and worked to minimize the negative impact of these budget cuts, while knowing that whatever monies the Town has we must serve over 20,000 residents?

As citizens are you more happy than upset that I have worked to keep all town departments open. In some cases limping along rather than stopping services such as the Library, Council on Aging or Park Department? Departments that several communities around us have closed.

In these terrible economic times and year after year of budget deficits, are you more happy than upset that I have kept government out of your wallets?

While Congress has gone crazy with stimulus/spending plans that are bankrupting the country and our children and grandchildren's futures are you more happy than upset that I have worked to have Town government live with its own means, without putting the Town or you into debt?

If on balanced performance you can say that I've done more good than bad, then I ask you for your vote. If you believe not, than I don't deserve your support.

From my self-assessment and comments from many of you, I believe I have been that good steward for Middleboro and I ask you for your vote on April 4th.

Thank you,

Steve