Challenges
Why, now, have I chosen to ask for your Vote?
This is my Love Letter to Methuen
I am a product of the Methuen Public Schools grades 1-12, as are many of my friends. That experience left an indelible mark on me. Most recently, I attended my Tenney Memorial High School 50th Reunion, for the class of 1975. My reunion was the final inspiration for throwing my hat into the ring, and run for Mayor! Running for Mayor is my ‘Love Letter” to the city that gave me a world class education. I had a career that started in Methuen, went to Boston, and eventually landed in midtown New York City. That great metropolis became my home where I lived, and worked for 22 years from the downtown neighborhood of Battery Park City. I saw first-hand the restoration of my neighborhood as a result of 9/11. Great cities are fearless in their pursuit of the future.
Methuen Fails in Communications
City Hall must learn to communicate more effectively and efficiently with Methuen residents especially when it comes to major resources such as Eversource, National Grid, Pest Enders, and E.L. Harvey. Since January 6, 2025, Ashford Street and our neighboring streets have been confronted with very invasive Eversource gas upgrades. The lack of information coming from City Hall to the East End residents is concerning. Our city councilor was updated on the issues but to no avail. In May, Eversource stopped all work without any explanation to the homeowners and taxpayers. At the end of August, just one week before school starts, the digging begins again. The missing piece is City Hall. Perhaps a coordinated effort from the Mayor, DPW, and Eversource could eliminate worry and concern from the home owners, the residents, and their families. Communication is a sign of strength. Communication is a sign of skill. Communication is how great cities get things done!
My "Back to School or Bust" Initiative
Every child deserves to have the best education their community has to offer. As my Ashford Street neighborhood prepares to bus our students back to school for their first weeks, I will be checking in with their parents on how their children are transitioning from summertime to schooltime. I am most interested in following the progress of deep cleaning the schools due to rodent infestation problems. As I stated in my August 8, 2025, interview with the Lawrence Eagle Tribune, ”In order to resolve sanitary issues the city might need to retrain staff and have more discussions with students….My observation is that it has to do with the people who are doing the work. I think we need to teach kids about cleanliness all over again. If there is no eating in the classrooms, that means there is no eating in the classrooms, end of conversation.” This is not just a sanitary issue but a potential health risk as well. At the very least, students, teachers, and staff deserve clean schools!
Community for All
When asked, “What do you like best about Methuen?” The answer is inevitably, “The people!” Lifelong friendships are established from generation to generation in our community, and often through the Methuen Public School system, the Senior Center, and Veteran's Services. Methuen remains a friendly city, within both old and new neighborhoods. As the demographics reflect, we are a very diverse population of over 53,000 people. This includes 6,650+ school children, 9,000 seniors, and 5,000 veterans. These demographics indicate where Methuen needs to place its financial resources. Methuen also has beautiful natural spaces for its residents to enjoy, including Forest Lake, the Merrimack River, and Methuen Rail Trail to name a few. One of our greatest and most beautiful resources is the recently purchased Searles Estate. This diamond in the rough should be Methuen’s opportunity to share our unique and dazzling history with our own community and beyond.
