We have two excellent candidates for selectman: one with a demonstrated record of understanding and working with the town’s financial system and public finance. The other candidate has a record of accomplishment in getting things done. I lean toward the latter candidate, Bill Johnson.
For too long this town has had a Board of Selectmen that endlessly debated issues and made very few decisions to take action.
Those who support Johnson are saying that he can lead opponents to focus on core issues, that he has a gift for diplomacy, and that he achieves results through collaboration.
What has he done? He has served for several years on the Pond Committee. He wrote the federal grant applications for the drawdown system for controlling weeds in Bare Hill Pond. The Pond Committee built and installed the system and the building that houses it. Further, he wrote the federal grant application for the system that will be installed next spring to remove phosphorous, a weed-encouraging element, from water runoff destined for Bare Hill Pond. Bill also served on the Financial Impact Analysis Team, which reported its study results at Annual Town Meeting last May: Harvard must not rely solely on real estate taxes as a source of income—we need to develop income from businesses. Further, Bill is serving on the Economic Development and Analysis Team to propose a strategy to encourage business to locate in Harvard’s business district.
Finally, Bill also contributes his time to teaching disadvantaged children how to ski.
With this record of accomplishments by Bill Johnson, I’m voting for him. Harvard needs him.
Paul H. von Loesecke
Warren Ave.
