All candidates in April 10 election: What those seeking key seats say

The League of Women Voters of Arlington presents its voters' guide to the candidates for the April 10 town election Saturday, April 10. YourArlington has republished large parts of it to include statements from all candidates, including one who did not respond to requests for comment (Kevin Feeley) or those who were not asked for comment because of the lack of opposition (School Committee).

This guide is provided as a public service by the League of Women Voters of Arlington, and is designed to present voters with information to help them make informed decisions about the candidates in the town election on Saturday, April 10.

In compiling this information, the league sent a questionnaire to all candidates whose names were provided by town clerk. The candidates appear as they are printed on the ballot.

As in 2020, the league can't provide rides to the polls this Election Day

The league is a nonpartisan political organization committed to open government and citizen involvement.  Men and women are invited to join us by contacting Ann FitzGerald  <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; or 781-646-9711.

TOWNWIDE CANDIDATES 

SELECT BOARD FOR THREE YEARS

Vote for NOT MORE THAN TWO

(Candidates were limited to 200 words for their answer to the question.)

Eric D. Helmuth: 33 Grandview Road

Occupation:  Health technology policy director

Qualifications:  In my years as a leader in Town Meeting, chair of the Community Preservation Act Committee and volunteer in other corners of town government I’ve earned a reputation as a doer, good listener and consensus builder. I’ll bring that broad experience and collaborative leadership to the Select Board.

Question: In 2020, Massachusetts voters rejected but Arlington voted in favor of ranked-choice voting. Should Arlington adopt ranked choice voting for town elections? If so, for which offices?

Ranked-choice voting (RCV) can encourage greater diversity in the candidate field, let voters select their favorite candidate without fear of a spoiler effect, and ensure majority support for the winner. I was among the 61.6% of Arlington voters saying Yes to Question 2, which would have adopted RCV for statewide and federal elections in single-seat races.

However, RCV for multiseat elections is more complex, with somewhat different challenges and benefits. I personally support it for our few single-seat local elections (such as town clerk). I also support a related reform of awarding the longest Town Meeting terms to the highest vote-getters. Beyond that, I await the results of the Election Modernization Committee’s comprehensive study of this and other issues before deciding about RCV for other town races.

Furthermore, because Question 2 specifically excluded local government elections and races where more than one candidate can win, we don’t really know how Arlington voters feel about RCV for our local elections. A nonbinding town-wide referendum would facilitate a robust, specific community conversation and better inform the Select Board and Town Meeting about the will of the voters.

Jennifer R. Susse: 45 Teel St.

Occupation:  Accounting assistant

Qualifications:  I served on the School Committee for six years, Town Meeting for 11 years, Long-Range Planning for four years, and have worked collaboratively with multiple campaigns and advocacy groups across the town. I have been a consistent advocate for transparent decision-making, community outreach, and engagement. 

Question: In 2020, Massachusetts voters rejected but Arlington voted in favor of ranked choice voting. Should Arlington adopt ranked-choice voting for town elections? If so, for which offices?

For the past year and a half I have served on the Election Modernization Committee where we discussed and proposed ranked choice voting (RCV) for all town-wide elections. The warrant article was pulled last fall because we felt there wasn’t enough time to explain the details of the system to Town Meeting under the constraints of the new virtual format. 

The voter’s experience of ranked choice voting is simple: they rank candidates on a ballot in order of preference. If their first choice fails to garner enough votes, their vote is transferred to the second choice. The benefits of RCV are numerous: 1) voters can express their real preference without fear of spoiling the chances of a viable and still preferred candidate, 2) it encourages more people to run for office and increases voter participation, 3) It encourages candidates to run positive campaigns, and 4) it produces results that better reflect the will of the voters.

I support RCV for both single-seat and multiseat elections. For multi-seat elections there are two variants--proportional and non-proportional. Either variant would improve multi-seat town elections today. The Election Modernization Committee is currently planning outreach on this issue to Town Meeting Members.

John V. Hurd: 242 Hillside Ave.

Candidate for reelection                                        

Occupation: Attorney

Qualifications: As a current Select Board member, a progressive, a local real estate attorney, a coach, and a 35-year resident of the Arlington, who went through the Arlington school system and now has two boys in Arlington schools, I bring a unique, well-rounded perspective to the Select Board. 

Question: In 2020, Massachusetts voters rejected but Arlington voted in favor of ranked choice voting. Should Arlington adopt ranked choice voting for town elections? If so, for which offices?

Arlington has made great strides recently increasing diversity in town.  However, our housing affordability crisis threatens this progress.  We need to ensure that all voices in town are heard and promote more diversity in town leadership.  Ranked choice voting (RCV) can be a key tool to achieve this goal.  The Select Board recently had a hearing on the RCV warrant article submitted for the 2021 annual Town Meeting.  There were two take-aways for me: one, RCV can be really beneficial in our local elections; and 2) there remains some disagreement about how RCV should operate locally.

The Election Modernization Committee has done amazing work on RCV.  However, during Covid, their ability to educate residents about the benefits of RCV locally has been limited.  With a significant change in elections, I believe we need to educate not only town meeting members, but also the public about the proposed changes before Town Meeting votes on the article so residents can share thoughts or concerns with Town Meeting members.  I recommend that the warrant article be delayed to either a fall special town meeting or our 2022 annual Town Meeting to ensure we have sufficient public education and input.   

ASSESSOR FOR THREE YEARS

Vote for NOT MORE THAN ONE

Kevin P. Feeley: 25 Baker Road

Candidate for reelection

Occupation: Assessor

Qualifications:  I have served on the Board of  Assessors for over 30 years.  I am a member of the Massachsetts and Middlesex county Associations of assessing officers.  I have participated in all levels of town government from committee work, Town Meeting and selectman.

Question: If elected to the Board of Assessors, would you actively support the real estate Tax Exemption Program, listed on the Town website, for low-income property owners? If yes, how?  If not, why not?

It is clear to everybody that in our current economic situation that some taxpayers are experiencing trouble paying there living expenses including real estate taxes.  This is especially true for low-income property owners and also senior citizens on fixed income.  Due to Covid-19 and no public access to Town Hall the assessing department has posted a list of exemptions that are available and the applications printed from the web site.  If a taxpayer doesn't have access to a computer they can call the department and the staff will be glad to help them.

Guillermo S. Hamlin: 1228 Massachusetts Avenue, #B

Occupation: Government access broadcaster

Qualifications:  I’m qualified to be assessor by virtue of currently serving as Town Meeting member. As demonstrated on the housing & media nonprofits that I’ve led. A native of Paraguaya, I’ve devoted myself to public service. Even swearing a citizens oath in 2015 after graduating with an evening bachelor's from Harvard University in 2013.

Question: If elected to the Board of Assessors, would you actively support the real estate Tax Exemption Program, listed on the Town website, for low-income property owners? If yes, how?  If not, why not?

Yes, I would. I was raised by low-income property owners. However, I’d do so in an effective manner. The variety of exemptions to reduce tax obligations are very limited, but the area I’d like to work within scope is financial hardship. Using my community media skills, I will educate my neighbors & review lawful ways to broaden it on the Board of Assessors [under assurances from town counsel]. 

For instance, it was an honor to adopt a Gold Star Family Tax Exemption, a measure passed by Town Meeting. Despite there being only a single family that qualified, the truth is no one wants to be a Gold Star Family. Because of our town manager’s creative leadership, the funding came from an abatement overlay & we were able to do the right thing, legitimately.

Whether it is a partial or full exemption, the Board of Assessors have the sole discretion to relieve cases of financial hardship under penalties of the Dept. of Revenue. I need to be clear that I alone can’t undo your tax bill but I will educate you & direct you to call and/or email the Assessors’ Office to determine your eligibility at 781-316-3050 or assessors at town.arlington.ma.us.

Phillip P. Lohnes: 22 Bartlett Ave.

Occupation:  CPA and senior director of finance and HR, Nantero Inc. 

Qualifications:  As a CPA and as a corporate director of finance, I bring objectivity and clarity to numbers. I’m running for a seat on the Board of Assessors to offer the voters my management experience, my technical skills, my fiduciary responsibility, and the clarity of my communication.

Question: If elected to the Board of Assessors, would you actively support the real estate Tax Exemption Program, listed on the Town website, for low-income property owners? If yes, how?  If not, why not?

Of course, I’ll support it! These are statutory exemptions which embody our commitment to fair, progressive and equitable treatment of our seniors and our families with low incomes. And for what our veterans have sacrificed for us, at the risk of life and limb, relief from property taxes is only a small part of the debt of gratitude we owe them.

So, what more can we do? We have to examine the income limits and ask how long inflation has been pushing them beyond the reach of the people needing relief. We need to “bump up” how to apply for exemptions to a banner across the top of the Assessors web page—right now it’s lost in the menu of other information and forms. We should be using the town’s email notices, and the quarterly mailings of tax bills, to carry the same reminders.

Elect me as your assessor and I’ll make sure the availability of tax exemptions, like every communication that comes from my office, is written in clear and direct language. I’ll train my staff to answer every question with knowledge and courtesy.

Let’s begin now: this very hard-to-find table of exemptions appears here >>

SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR THREE YEARS

Vote for NOT MORE THAN TWO

Jane P. Morgan: 172 Brattle St.

Candidate for reelection

Occupation:  Educator

Qualifications: I am a mother of four, former PTO co-president, current chair of the School Committee and a higher education administrator and educator. We have lived in Arlington since 2003 and I remain committed to improving our schools for all learners. 

Question: What should the Arlington Public Schools be doing to meet student needs that arose from the school closures during the pandemic?

In order to begin to meet student needs that have arisen from school closures during the pandemic, the Arlington Public Schools must move swiftly and safely toward opening our schools full time for all students. Bringing students back to school is critical for beginning the parallel processes of evaluation and remediation. Preserving the remote academy for those students who need it for this academic year is also necessary. Students need access to their professional educators five days a week as well as all of the educational, social and emotional supports our schools provide. Opening our school full time must be done soon and in conjunction with making vaccinations available to teachers and staff. 

The development of the FY22 budget has been done with remediation in mind. However, the impacts of the pandemic will be felt well beyond the next school year. We need consistent and dependable funding for counselors, social workers, reading and math support personnel and smaller class sizes so that educators can meet the needs of all students. This will require investment by the state in municipalities and continued prioritization of the schools at the town level.              

Jeffrey D. Thielman: 37 Coolidge Road

Candidate for reelection

Occupation: President and CEO, International Institute of New England

Qualifications:  School Committee member since 2003, former Chair, served on each subcommittee. Town Meeting member. President, Cristo Rey Boston High School (2009-15). President & CEO, International Institute of New England since 2015, a multi-state human services organization providing humanitarian relief, education, job training, and legal services to immigrants and refugees.

Question: What should the Arlington Public Schools be doing to meet student needs that arose from the school closures during the pandemic? 

Every day a child is not school is a bad day for that student, their family, and the community. The most important thing for us to do is get our student back to full-time, in-person learning, during the current school year. Arlington is more prepared than most communities to do this. We have testing for teachers, pool testing for kids, teachers will be vaccinated soon, and our district’s experience with hybrid learning has shown that our Covid-19 protocols keep kids and staff safe.

Over the next few years, students will need more social emotional support, which requires the School Committee to advocate for more funding from state and federal government to pay for additional counselors and mental health professionals. The pandemic has been especially challenging for our most vulnerable students – Special Education children, English Language Learners, and others. Some of these learners experienced substantial regression during the pandemic. As a result, we have to provide them with additional support. Finally, we need to honestly assess where all of our students are academically relative to their grade level, provide appropriate remediation, offer summer classes, and give some students a chance to repeat a grade to catch up on their learning. 

ARLINGTON HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR FIVE YEARS

Vote for NOT MORE THAN ONE

Nicholas C. Mitropoulos: 17 Jean Road

Candidate for reelection

Occupation: Vice president, commercial operations

Qualifications: I have had the privilege to have served on the Board for 20 years. I have been elected by the people of Arlington 4 times. A lifelong resident of Arlington. MBA in Finance and Marketing from Babson College. Certified Board Member, Ethics, Financial, Personnel, Legal and Professional Relationship training. 

Question: Because the Arlington Housing Authority is a state body, how is it accountable to town residents? 

First and foremost, I have always felt it was the responsibility of the Arlington Housing Authority, to offer safe and secure housing to its tenants based on the federal and state guidelines while ensuring the Authority remains fiscally sound. The Housing Authority is the vehicle for tenants (via local tenants associations) and town residents to voice their concerns and needs as it pertains to their quality of life.

Secondly, we must continue to understand the town requirements for additional housing and have plans in place to secure such properties. A cohesive well-coordinated plan is required to position the town to federal and state authorities for support to provide the housing it requires.

Thirdly, I believe it is in everyone’s best interest to work together to provide necessary services to the tenant’s and their children to enable them to succeed. The Menotomy Manor skill center is a great example of the power of the town and the AHA working together to provide necessary skills such as English as a second language and the after-school Homework club to its citizens. Henry Ford once said – If everyone is moving forward together, then success will take care of itself. Let us move forward together. 

Kelda K. Fontenot: 42 Allen St.

Occupation: Project Management (music)/ESL teacher

Qualifications: With over ten years’ experience in housing advocacy and professional project management, I bring a valuable skill set relating to the challenges of applying for low-income housing alongside business skills. My education guides me regarding effects of housing policy. My personal experience seeking safe, affordable housing is my strongest asset.

Question: Because the Arlington Housing Authority is a state body, how is it accountable to town residents? 

Despite being a state body, the AHA is a local entity in its effect. The health of a community is reflected in the health of its residents. With over 1,500 of our most vulnerable community members (including over 400 children), AHA’s properties reflect the community of Arlington - regardless of how funding is formulated. 

Arlington residents value our town’s diversity as well as our lifelong residents. Members of the community residing in AHA properties represent this diversity more than any other group of people. Our children, local workers whose presence we take for granted, and familiar faces we see every day on the street or volunteer alongside all encompass AHA residents. It is simply impossible to separate our community members as state residents or Arlington residents. Through its responsibility to these residents, the Arlington Housing Authority is undeniably accountable to the community of Arlington, not only the state. 

Massachusetts law recognizes this unique combination of state and local accountability through the unique structure of our housing authority boards.With four community members and only one member appointed by the state, the AHA board reflects this clear community accountability.                          

TOWN MEETING CANDIDATES

 PRECINCT 1

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS

Vote for FOUR 

Peter T. Young

10 Wellesley Road

Candidate for reelection

Stephen Revilak

111 Sunnyside Avenue

Candidate for reelection

Kevin M. Mills

28 Mystic Valley Parkway

Candidate for reelection

Gregory D. Dennis

19 Wheaton Road

Candidate for reelection

PRECINCT 2

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS

Vote for FOUR

Stephen W. DeCourcey

7 Cheswick Road

Candidate for reelection

Robert V. Rossi

27 Colonial Drive

Candidate for reelection

Mark W. McCabe

4 Dorothy Road

Candidate for reelection

Maxwell B. Palmer

1 Roanoke Road

PRECINCT 3

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS

Vote for FOUR

Nandana M. Mewada

53 Winter Street, #2

Adam Auster

10 Cottage Avenue

Candidate for reelection

Amos W. Meeks

25 Lee Terrace

Anne K. Thompson

14 Cottage Avenue, #1

Candidate for reelection

Lenard T. Diggins

8 Windsor Street, #1

Candidate for reelection

PRECINCT 4

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS

Vote for FOUR 

Ethan P. Zimmer

18 Lake Street, #2

Candidate for reelection

Ezra Fischer

32 Thorndike Street

Clarissa Rowe

137 Herbert Road

Candidate for reelection

Judith E. Garber

130 Massachusetts Avenue, #4

PRECINCT 5

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS

Vote for FOUR 

Lauren M. Ledger

169 Franklin Street

Candidate for reelection

Peter Jared Thompson

127 Palmer Street

Candidate for reelection

Sarah C. Huber

24 Amherst Street

Brian C. McMurray

4 Park Street Place

Karen Elizabeth Kelleher

57 Beacon Street

Candidate for reelection

PRECINCT 5

TOWN MEETING MEMBER FOR TWO  YEARS

Vote for ONE

Terrance Ashley Marshall

129 Palmer Stree

PRECINCT 6

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS 

Vote for FOUR 

Aram G. Hollman

12 Whittemore Street

Adam MacNeill

12 Wellington Street, #3

Anna J. Henkin

11 Marion Road, #1

Lesley A. Waxman

60 Pleasant Street, #312

Candidate for reelection

Theodore L. Peluso

438 Massachusetts Avenue, #420

Candidate for reelection

Andrew S. Fischer

25 Lombard Road

Candidate for reelection

Charles E. Blandy

58 Lombard Terrace, #2

Candidate for reelection

PRECINCT 7

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS 

Vote for FOUR

Marc E. Lefebvre

89 Bates Road

Roderick J. Holland 

88 Grafton Street

Candidate for reelection

Elizabeth A. Carlton-Gysan

268 Broadway

Laurence J. Slotnick

96 Grafton Street, #2

Candidate for reelection 

PRECINCT 8

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS 

Vote for FOUR

Patricia B. Worden

27 Jason Street

Candidate for reelection

Scott B. Lever

81 Kensington Park

Candidate for reelection

Rebecca G. Gruber

215 Pleasant Street

Irwin S. Grossman

16 Peabody Road

Candidate for reelection

John D. Leone

51 Irving St.

Joshua Lobel

73 Jason Street, #2

Candidate for reelection

John B. Presti

90 Jason Street

PRECINCT 9

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS 

Vote for FOUR

Paul Schlichtman

47 Mystic Street, #8C

Candidate for reelection

Phedjina Jean

113 Medford Street, #2

Jennifer Lyn Mansfield

44 Franklin Street

Brian Hasbrouck

46 Sherborn Street

Candidate for reelection

Jo Anne Preston

42 Mystic Lake Drive

Candidate for reelection

Barbara Ann Boltz

54 Medford Street, #510

Candidate for reelection

PRECINCT 10

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS

Vote for FOUR

Mustafa Varoglu

26 Shawnee Road

Candidate for reelection

Christian MacQuarrie Klein

54 Newport Street

Candidate for reelection

Barbara M. Costa

26 Woodland Street

Candidate for reelection

Danuta M. Forbes

4 Iroquois Road

Candidate for reelection     

PRECINCT 11

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS 

Vote for FOUR

Carl A. Wagner

30 Edgehill Road

Carroll E. Schwartz

20 Robin Hood Road

Candidate for reelection

Mary Ellen Bilafer

59 Cutter Hill Road

Candidate for reelection

Meredith H. DiMola

47 Crosby Street

Engjellushe Kozeli Mozina

155 Summer Street

Christine C. Carney

98 Richfield Road

Candidate for reelection

PRECINCT 12

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS 

Vote for FOUR 

Alexander R. Franzosa

178 Scituate Street

Robin L. Bergman

320 Park Avenue

Lisa A. Bielefeld

132 Mount Vernon Street

Candidate for reelection

Robert J. Jefferson

27 Park Circle

Candidate for reelection

Shane M. N. Curcuru

47 Chester Street

Lynette Martyn

18 Eustis Street

Jeffrey D. Thielman

37 Coolidge Road

Candidate for reelection

PRECINCT 13

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS

Vote for FOUR

Marie A. Krepelka

12 Mohawk Road

Candidate for reelection

Lynn P. Bishop

51 Windmill Lane

Candidate for reelection

Michael F. Byrne

28 Upland Road

Candidate for reelection

DeAnne Dupont

32 Oldham Road

Candidate for reelection 

PRECINCT 14

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS 

Vote for FOUR

John F. Maher

990 Massachusetts Avenue, #44

Wynelle Evans

20 Orchard Place

Elisabeth Carr-Jones

1 Lehigh Street

Candidate for reelection 

Adam E. Pachter

67 Quincy Street

Candidate for reelection

Alan H. Jones

1 Lehigh Street

Candidate for reelection

PRECINCT 15

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS 

Vote for FOUR

Amy H. Speare

118 Ridge Street

Candidate for reelection

Annie LaCourt

48 Chatham Street

Candidate for reelection

Joseph A. Curro Jr.

21 Millett Street

Candidate for reelection

Nicole Maryann Nigoghossian

15 Pine Avenue

Nancy A. Mara

63 Epping Street

Candidate for reelection

PRECINCT 16

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS 

Vote for FOUR

William Brooks Harrelson

27 Ashland Street 

Deanna M. Graham

80 Hillside Avenue

Candidate for reelection

Barbara Thornton

223 Park Avenue

Candidate for reelection

Holly Czapski

25 Ely Road

Candidate for reelection

PRECINCT 16

TOWN MEETING MEMBER FOR ONE YEAR

Vote for ONE

Melanie Francis

35 Ashland Street, #1

PRECINCT 17

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS 

Vote for FOUR 

Xavid Pretzer

44 Grove Street

Courtney Sundell

1055 Massachusetts Avenue, #3

Allan Tosti

1 Watermill Place, Unit 419

Candidate for reelection

Laura B. Gitelson

56 Bow Street

Candidate for reelection

Ann V. FitzGerald

162 Summer Street, #1

Candidate for reelection

PRECINCT 18

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS

Vote for FOUR

Kristin Jeanne Greeley

283 Oakland Avenue

Charles Reese Wescott

15 Kipling Road

Nancy Lehrman Bloom

169 Sylvia Street

Candidate for reelection

Shirley M. Canniff

71 Hathaway Circle

Candidate for reelection

Jon Gersh

24 Kipling Road

Candidate for reelection

PRECINCT 18

TOWN MEETING MEMBER FOR TWO YEARS

Vote for ONE

Lauren Bellon

110 Williams Street

John V. Hurd

242 Hillside Avenue

PRECINCT 19

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS

Vote for FOUR

Edward Trembly

76 Wright Street

Candidate for reelection

Doralee Fleurant-Heurtelou

133 Newland Road

Neva Corbo-Hudak

100 Overlook Road

Candidate for reelection

Claire W. Johnson

84 Wright Street

Christine P. Deshler

65 Huntington Road

Candidate for reelection

PRECINCT 19

TOWN MEETING MEMBER FOR ONE YEAR

Vote for ONE

Ines Montserrat Zuckerman

4 Gay Street

PRECINCT 20

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS

Vote for FOUR

Peter T. Fuller

7 Kilsythe Road

Candidate for reelection

Sarah Doyle McKinnon

10 Kilsythe Road

Robert L. Tosi Jr.

14 Inverness Road

Candidate for reelection

Camilla B. Haase

88 Park Avenue, #401

Candidate for reelection

Ann Marie Skoczenski

14 Surry Road

Dean E. Carman

29 Kilsythe Road

Candidate for reelection

PRECINCT 21

TOWN MEETING MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS

Vote for FOUR

Janice A. Weber

29 Crescent Hill Avenue

Candidate for reelection

Lori Leahy

53 Westmoreland Avenue

Carmine Arthur Granucci

16 Nourse Street

Anne T. Ehlert

156 Westminster Avenue

Candidate for reelection

VOTING LOCATIONS

To determine your precinct, click here >>  or call the Town Clerk’s Office at 781-316-3070.

Photos provided by candidates; booklet prepared by Katharine Fennelly, Kim Haase

This news announcement was published Saturday, March 20, 2021.