Experience as a candidate's platform is an overused cliche and a clever deception
Journal entry: My personal campaign experience.
Over the past two campaigns I've heard other candidates make reference to experience. They reference town politics as the basis of their experience if you ask for clarity. Vote for EXPERIENCE. We hear these three words so often they've become meaningless to the general public. Has it become some other language understood by few?
Here is my personal interpretation of experience. Any argument based on experience doesn’t hold water. Each candidate brings personal and business experiences with them. Some good and some neutral. Regardless of the individual experience, you can not discount the collective experience, wisdom and direction of the ENTIRE 5 Person Planning Board or any other elected board. You are discounting the impact of the other members on the board by stressing a candidate’s individual experience.
My background in commercial development, technology consulting, and legislative lobbying allows for a deep and fresh perspective. I've managed large and small teams with project budgets in the $10+ millions. Daily interaction with Fortune 500 C-Level executives have fine tuned my long and short term strategic thinking. I've traversed the deep and intertwined political circuit on Beacon Hill. I represented a large body of small and independent business owners affording me the opportunity to understand the impact of their contribution to the local economy.
But yet, some believe I don't have the experience for a "VOLUNTEER" position on a town board. We can not continue to run a town in the ways of old politics. Even our current President of the United States has embraced change and a new way of governing. Good or bad, he is willing to make a difference by embracing the potential and a means of efficiency. We need people with clear long and short term vision for the town - with the BEST INTEREST of the town.
Especially now more than ever, we need people that are passionate and dedicated to improve the town. We do not need individuals going with the motion, being a puppet or simply "acting" on the will of the people. Which people are we referring to in Westwood? There will always be two sides on any issue in Westwood. There is no will of the people. That's simply politics.
I have kept my promise after every campaign to continue my best effort to be involved. I am committed, pasionate and dedicated to every appointed or elected position. I will continue to move forward with the Economic Development Advisory Board, Housing Authority, WestCAT and other committees.
I have no hidden agenda or ulterior motive. I am active simply as a resident concerned with the same fundamental issues facing all of us in Westwood.
/JL
