Campaign kickoff 3 p.m. Sunday, March 14
Hamlin
UPDATED, March 13: Guillermo S. Hamlin, a Precinct 14 Town Meeting member, is seeking a three-year seat on the Board of Assessors.
In announcing his campaign in a Jan. 13 email, he wrote that he aims to promote the fair and equal treatment of all taxpayers when they are being administered their property tax, motor vehicle excise tax and all related exemptions.
“I will be committed to accessibility and collaboration in all my work,” the 31-year-old wrote.
He is government-affairs coordinator at UMA (formerly MATV), a nonprofit community media hub based in Malden. He he worked there for nearly five years.
1 seat available
Kevin Feeley, a veteran member of the board, has not responded to two requests asking whether he is running. He has not taken out papers.
Besides Hamlin, Phillip P. Lohnes has also taken out nomination papers.
As to Hamlin's background, he wrote in his release: “I have worked extensively for several years throughout the region to collaborate with city governments, community and civic organizations and in particular, the business community.
“I lean on my experience as an upwardly mobile but formerly low-income green card holder.” Born in Asuncion, Paraguay. he grew up in Somerset Hills, N.J., and came to Massachusetts at 18 “harboring delusions about being an independent filmmaker.”
He began working at Harvard University as a camera operator for college science and math lectures.
An “added perk,” he said is that, while studying at night, in 2013, he earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and anthropology through the Harvard Extension School.
Since then, he helped form the Harvard Latino Alumni Alliance and joined the board of the Community Action Agency of Somerville. The federal antipoverty agency provides annual free tax assistance with IRS-certified tax preparers, administers Head Start classrooms and advocates for the housing rights of Somerville and Cambridge residents.
Ex-Rotary president
A former Malden Rotary president, he says he collaborates with others to get things done.
He was elected to Town Meeting last June during the pandemic.
“I have been delighted to become more involved in our historic and thriving community as a result,” he wrote. “I’ll be calling and listening to my neighbors to represent their concerns. I’m happy to see that we have a dynamic assessors office. I’m hoping to be the same on the Board of Assessors.”
Hamlin writes that he aims to continue virtual meetings and services. “I’d like to study it further as we move beyond these challenging limitations,” he wrote. “My leadership background, volunteerism and technical skills combine to make me uniquely qualified to get us there.”
Above all, he wrote that he believes in complying with the Department of Revenue and Division of Local Services, doing the work, remote or otherwise.
Dec. 19, 2020, to present: April town election information
This news announcement was published Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, and updated March 13, to add kickoff.
NOTE: YourArlington requests introductory statements from the campaigns of all candidates for major offices in the April town election. Please include a current photo (head shot). These statements are expected to be updated as the campaigns progress. Send to sprague.bob at gmail.com.
