Now seems like a good time for the people of Harvard to take another look at the drumbeat of prior board and committee experience as the measure of a candidate. Experience matters, yes, but what do we really mean when we say this? What are we trying to learn about a Select Board candidate when we ask if they’ve served on other town boards and committees?
Experience might be the light that shines on a person’s values, convictions, or actions so that town residents can examine them in the context of our standards for leadership and representation. As we know, this can be as disqualifying as it is qualifying, but it isn’t tied to previous committee work save for the serendipity of exposure.
When we talk about experience, don’t we really mean that we want to elect a candidate who will devote the effort and energy necessary for meaningful understanding of governance in Harvard? Who will adhere to our code of conduct, but also knows our charter? Who will arrive to every meeting prepared? And who seeks office with demonstrated capability but also—importantly—out of a true spirit of service? These behaviors and qualities can all be evaluated without a record of previous town board experience.
Ahmet Corapcioglu has been doing his homework. He has already attended numerous and varied committee meetings as a member of the public, and read a great many archived board minutes, in order to better understand the issues we face. He has reached out to residents and to elected and appointed town leaders to ask for their perspectives and insights. He seeks the office of Select Board with an attitude of fair mindedness and genuine curiosity, and with a long track record of honest effort and professional achievement—experience—in problem solving.
My own service in Harvard has taught me that the best predictors of success are integrity and the commitment to work hard to get things done. Please join me in supporting the candidate for Select Board with those values. You can learn much more about Ahmet at ahmetforharvard.com.
Shannon Molloy
Stow Road
