Board of Selectmen Candidate Maria Romano

In preparation for the upcoming town elections, Arlington Patch sat down to talk with all of the candidates running for major office. In the upcoming weeks we will bring you profiles on all of the different candidates, giving you an inside look at their backgrounds, their experiences and their views on the issues.

Maria Romano is one of three candidates running for a three-year term on the Board of Selectmen. Romano faces current Chairman Diane Mahon and and Town Meeting member Dan Dunn. Voters will choose two candidates who will each serve a three-year term. Attempts to reach Diane Mahon as part of these Q&As were unsuccessful.

Maria Romano is a 31-year Arlington resident and a 25-year town business owner. She started and now runs M.A. Romano Construction, a residential remodeling business. She is a member of the and has been heavily involved in the reconstruction of Mass Ave.  

Patch: The town is currently facing staff cuts for municipal employees. What is your position on these cuts, and if these cuts are made what should the board do to ensure town services do not suffer?

Maria Romano: "First of all we have to establish a three-year financial horizon for the town including key elements to running the town: the revenue, budget priorities, services and employee health care. All of these are important considerations in making a sound financial plan for the town. I am a proponent of first establishing this sound financial plan to voters in order to build up the trust that has eroded in this town, so that they could possibly look at an override. We have essential services that must be preserved and we have to establish what those services are to ensure the safety of residents and business owners who pay taxes in this town."

Patch: A major role of the members of the Board of Selectmen is corresponding with concerned, and sometimes upset residents. If elected to the board, what specifically will you do to ensure that citizens’ voices are heard? As a selectman what will you do to strengthen the relationship between the board and the residents it serves?

Maria Romano: "I would present a platform in the selectmen's room that would enable them to feel comfortable going to the microphone, knowing that we will listen with respect and concern. I would set a tone that lets them know that this is their town, their money and that we need to focus on their concerns to make it work for everybody."

Patch: How do you think the board can improve communication with the rest of the town and if elected to the board, what specifically will you to ensure that this happens?

Maria Romano: "I would bring all the committees and boards together at a table and sit them down so that we can present a unified vision for this town. Part of the problem -- as well-intentioned as it is -- is that there are too many boards and committees. We don't know what everyone is doing. For instance, I think there needs to be a liaison between the School Committee and the Board of Selectmen so one board knows what's happening with the other. We need to have a more coherent, unified vision for the town." 

Patch: A new liquor licensing law just went into effect allowing Arlington’s three beer and wine vendors to begin selling liquor in the next few weeks. A warrant article submitted for spring Town Meeting calls for additional liquor licenses in town. What is your position on adding additional liquor licenses, and if elected how will you approach liquor licensing on the Board of Selectmen?

Maria Romano: "I'm happy that we have a lot of restaurants in this town and I think it's a thriving business for Arlington. But what we're doing is saturating a very small square foot area. I think there should be a limit to the number of restaurants and the number of liquor licenses issued. You're not helping the existing family businesses. It gets to a point where you have to say 'enough is enough' -- adding more businesses isn't helping the ones already established in town."

Patch: What about your experience and background makes you the best person for this job?

Maria Romano: "I am a business owner for over 25 years. Every day in my business I handle budgets, I handle concerns of my customers. They give me large sums of money and I have to help them budget it, allocate it and make a plan that's realistic for them. In my business, I am dealing (with money) and delegating (tasks) every day. My business experience gives me the needed skills to be a selectmen and reach out to the officials, the committees, the boards and the residents of this town, so that we can have a decent dialogue, accountability and follow-through on all projects."

Check back with Arlington Patch for more candidate profiles before heading to the polls on April 2