Barry Kling's Endorsement Page
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
= Dawn Harkness=
-
Over the years I have worked with Bob on many townwide initiatives and had a pleasure of sitting with him during our stints as Town Meeting Members. Over that time, I have realized that Bob is an ideal choice to represent Framingham on the Board of Selectmen. He has demonstrated skills in bringing together individuals with different views and having them work together towards a common end. As Framingham moves ahead in the technology arena, it is essential that the Board have members who not only understand what the technology can do, but how to implement this for the better of all of Framingham. Bob provides such knowledge. Bob is also a passionate advocate for education and the Framingham Public Schools. He understands what makes our schools great and how that greatness can help Framingham move forward. I believe that Bob will be a Selectmen for all of Framingham and urge all of you to cast one of your two votes for Bob Berman.
Dennis Giombetti
PLANNING BOARD
Kathy Vassar
- I served with Kathy on the Standing Committee of Ways and Means and have found her to be passionate about Framingham and extremely well versed in the many nuances of Planning, Zoning and related issues. She would be a welcome addition to the Planning Board and a more than able replacement for Ann Welles.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
With Diane Throop choosing not to run for re-election, this year's school Committee race will elect a new member to our School Committee. As a member of the School Committee, Diane faced many challenging decisions, among them the closing of Juniper Hill and two protracted negotiating sessions with our education unions during her 6 year tenure and always approached each decision with care. I remember listening to her speak at a meeting and was amazed with her eloquence, her passion and her genuine commitment to the students of Framingham. Our town, and our students, have been well served by Diane and her presence will be missed. It is important that Framingham elect candidates with this same passion for excellence. The School Committee is responsible for managing our School Department and crafting the budget, which is the single largest component of the Town's overall budget. Because Town Meeting has only bottom line approval of the budget, the role of the School Committee is critical to the financial well-being of our community. In that regard, I encourage votes for the following School Committe candidates:
Mike Bower
- Mike has been an active Town Meeting Member from Precinct 5 and currently serves as the Chair of the Standing Committee of Education. He is no stranger to School Committee work, having served on the Randolph School Committee for nine years, including those years immediately following the passage of Proposition 2 1/2. His experiences there will be a benefit to our citizens and to our young people. He will bring some much needed new ideas and approaches to the School Committee.
Laura Medrano
- Laura is a strong advocate for the Latino community in Framingham, a community which deserves a greater representation on the School Committee. Laura will add to the diversity of the School Committee and will hopefully help the School Committee in meeting some of their goals around minority achievement.
David Miles
- David has proven himself to be an excellent member of the School Committee. I've always been impressed with the questions he asks, the suggestions he makes and his concern for the long-term implications of School Committee decisions. David deserves another term on the School Committee.
MODERATOR
Joel Winett
- In addition to running Town Meeting, the Town Moderator is also tasked with making appointments to key Town Committees, among them the Finance Committee, Capital Budget Committee and the Personnel Board. One of the major reasons I supported Joel in his first campaign was because of his promise to make timely appointments to these committees and not leave vacancies on these important boards. He has met this promise and while one may disagree with some of his appointments, one cannot say that Joel has shirked his responsibilities in this regard. Joel's Town Meeting's have always been run well and he has added some much needed improvements to the running of Town Meeting and is clearly able to separate his personal feelings on matters before Town Meeting and not let those feelings influence the operation of Town Meeting. Framingham needs a Moderator willing to fulfill all the responsibilites required and at the time they are required. Joel Winett is that individual and he deserves to continue on as Town Moderator.