WHY I AM RUNNING FOR SELECT BOARD

Working and serving in local government speaks to my belief in thinking globally while acting locally, and to my willingness to accept new challenges. I grew up as the youngest of eleven children in a woodsy town called Monroe, Connecticut. Our father passed away when I was still one year old, and our single mother taught us never to give up when challenged. 

I received my bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Latin from Cornell University in 1992. In 2013, I received my PhD in German Studies from Harvard University. Since 2020, I have been active in local initiatives for adult literacy and adult basic education. At the moment, I teach English every Wednesday to employees at a hospital in Springfield and at a factory in Westfield through a workplace improvement program. 

Like you, I worked hard to get what I have and I want for others to be able to get what they deserve too. I do not wish for anyone to be in the position of being concerned about how they will afford their next property tax bill in Shutesbury. Property taxes are set to rise next year to over $7,200 on average. (The Fiscal Year 2026 average single family tax bill was $6,770. The average is projected at $7,250-7,325 for FY27. For reference, please see this portion of the Shutesbury Finance Committee meeting of April 7, 2026.) I chose to run because I am in a position to face the complex challenges of sustaining Shutesbury as an affordable and rewarding place for everyone to live.