Andover Candidate Profile: Sheila Doherty For Moderator

ANDOVER, MA —Andover will have several contested races in the March 24 town election, including contested races for School Committee and Select Board. Andover Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles over the coming weeks.

Sheila Doherty is running for re-election as town moderator. She previously faced a challenger in Keith Saxon, but he withdrew ahead of the deadline. This would be Doherty's 14th one-year term.

Are you running for office in Andover? Contact Christopher Huffaker at chris.huffaker@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Andover Patch.

Previously on Patch: Ten File To Run In 2020 Andover Town Election

Sheila M Doherty

Position Sought

Town Moderator

Party Affiliation

Unenrolled

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

BA Political Science

Occupation

Insurance Broker - 41 years - Owner of Doherty Insurance Agency in Andover, MA

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Town Moderator

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running again for the Town Moderator position in Andover because I believe I have the skill sets to guide the deliberations of Town Meeting. I believe it is imperative for the Town Moderator to be neutral in the issues before Town Meeting, and to conduct the meeting as fairly and impartially for all the Town Meeting Members. In Andover, the Town Moderator appoints the Finance Committee whose function it is to advise Town Meeting. I take this responsibility very seriously and look to appoint residents who will evaluate the proposed budgets in detail and make recommendations to the Town Meeting voters.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The most pressing issue for the Town Moderator, I believe, is to work to assure the integrity of the Town Meeting process.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

There are currently no other candidates for the position of Moderator.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have been fortunate to have been elected as the Town Moderator for the last 14 years. I am grateful for the confidence the voters of Andover have had in me . I believe it is important for Town Meeting members to be able to have consistency in the running of the meeting.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am a life long resident of Andover. I believe in the collective wisdom of Town Meeting. Some believe it is an institution whose time has come and gone....I believe the VOTERS of the Town of Andover will debate and decide on the form of government we will utilize to govern ourselves in the future. In the meantime, the ability of each and every citizen to participate in all or some a Town Meeting is an amazing process to observe. I hold sacred the right of our citizens to govern themselves through healthy debate, differing viewpoints and reaching common ground. The Collective Wisdom of Town Meeting over centuries has made Andover what it is today, the Community we all love!

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.