Estelle Rand: Beverly City Council Candidate Profile

BEVERLY, MA — Estelle Rand is seeking re-election on the Beverly City Council representing Ward 2.

Rand is a 44-year-old mother of two with degrees in philosophy and music from Colgate University. She has worked as a librarian aide at the Thorpe Elementary School in Danvers since 2018.

She told Patch her focus in her next term would be making things easier for small businesses in Beverly, exploring new revenue streams that lessen the need for further development and protecting the environment.

Campaign website

www.estellemrand.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am seeking re-election for the Ward 2 City Councilor seat because I love being in the position to make our city a better place for all. I love representing Ward 2 in our city government and being a strong, cohesive voice for Ward 2 that represents all of our various perspectives and viewpoints. I have enjoyed the work of building community within Ward 2 and would like to continue to represent the people of Ward 2 as we navigate major issues and changes like the affordability of Beverly, the potential rezoning of the Bass River, coastal resiliency, diversity and equity, and utilities and infrastructure improvements.

The single most pressing issue facing our city is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The future of Beverly's economy affects our whole community. Our local economy, which includes our tax base, both from residents and commercial industries, state and federal funding for our schools and infrastructure, and our own community spending is an issue that overlays every constituent concern in the present moment and the future. We must explore new and unique revenue streams in order to build a Beverly economy that works for all.

I intend to explore new revenue streams, like green energy, municipally-owned fiber networks, and capitalizing on our existing historic and cultural assets in order to balance out the "need" for new development to increase the city's tax base. I intend to support the success of our small businesses and employers here in Beverly by reviewing even our most simple policies that affect businesses, like sandwich board applications. Let's find more ways to keep "Beverly money" in Beverly. I intend to find visionary ways of reducing the cost of living for Beverly residents, especially those on a fixed income, by creating policies and funding priorities for housing, our local food system, and transportation that help us all to have a better quality of life. Affordability, housing, infrastructure, cultural assets, and climate change resiliency are all important layers that make up the success of our economy both within the city and for our citizens. If I am re-elected I will work with the city administration, the city council, and the community to create a policy that builds our economy in a sustainable, responsible way.

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

I believe that my record of community leadership and service to Beverly is one very important and unique strength that I bring to the council. Over the past 13 years, I have had the honor of volunteering, serving on boards and committees, directing the farmers' market, and programming public spaces with arts and culture in our community. Even before being elected, I was compelled (and appointed) to serve on committees like the Beverly Waste Reduction Committee, for example, because I am committed to being part of the solution to the problems and concerns in our community. Through my leadership on non-profit boards and city committees, I open doors and hold space for new community leaders to share their talents, while representing Ward 2 with a clear voice. Local organizations like Beverly Main Streets have partnered with me when I wanted to volunteer to run programs that support arts and culture in our downtown arts district.

As the volunteer director of the Beverly Farmers' Market, I have brought access to farm-fresh food, created opportunities for small businesses to share their passion, activated an underutilized public space, and created space for culture and civic engagement for all to enjoy. My experiences as a community leader have been opportunities to build trust and connections within city departments, community non-profit agencies, Beverly businesses, our citizens, and our community leaders. These experiences all came with successes and failures and have been key to my growth as a community leader, instilling in me the importance of working together, taking the time to build consensus, perseverance, and approaching problems with curiosity.

My record of leadership and service is a great indication that I have spent the time necessary connecting with the community and building community to be a visionary and effective leader on the city council.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I am proud of the way that our local government and our community responded to the pandemic. I know that we are all still doing our best to navigate this public health crisis. We have collectively lost a lot. What I saw during the height of the critical response to the pandemic were people in our city government and city departments who continued to meet constituent needs and continued to work for the greater good of our community even though we were all also managing our own household challenges.

Where I see the area for improvement is in a more effective centralized system for communication out to the community. There are so many different ways to communicate now, but we really need to look at a streamlined effort that will be even more effective than what we are doing now.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

If I am re-elected these will be my priorities for the next term:
- Advocate for infrastructure improvements that benefit all generations and different abilities.
- Promote citywide housing solutions that respond to the needs especially of seniors, our veterans, & young people.
- Implement fundamental environmental standards and policies including recycling/waste standards and coastal resiliency planning.
- Provide opportunities for solution-focused communication with constituents, including expanded office hours.
- Advocate for development that is responsive to our community needs.
- Advocate for the use of ARPA funds for initiatives that repair our economy and meet the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.
- A voice that will call out racism and bigotry; an ear to listen to the concerns of all of our city's residents; and an open heart that feels there is a place for everyone in Beverly.

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

I have had the honor of representing Ward 2 since 2014. There have been many successes that I have been part of through my work on the city council. There are many successes that I have had the distinct honor to lead: Creating the Human Rights Committee in Beverly and establishing the "Bring Your Own Bag" ordinance were big accomplishments that were the results of more than a year's worth of research, interns, working groups, building consensus, public meetings, and finally a unanimous vote in favor by the council. Successfully advocating for residential parking for downtown residents affected by the commuter rail and changing our "Inclusionary Zoning" ordinance (affordable housing requirements of new development) were accomplishments that required vision, dedication, research, debate, and tenacity. Successfully, identifying money in the budget to fund Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work in our city for the first time ever, without changing the budget bottom line was an accomplishment that required an exceptional working relationship with our mayor and finance director, quickly building consensus within the council to pass a change to the city budget, expert understanding of the budget process, and working quickly and effectively to meet a deadline.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Just be yourself.

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

I look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in people’s lives in Beverly by pursuing a vision of a thriving local economy that supports the citizens' economic stability and entrepreneurial spirits, enhances existing community assets, quality of life and economic diversity while sustainably contributing to the city budget. My work in climate action advocacy, waste reduction, supporting Beverly’s identity as a creative and cultural hub, building community, and supporting equity and inclusion aligns with this vision of an economically and culturally thriving community. Please vote on November 2nd, let's show the North Shore that Beverly is engaged and ready to be a leader in civic engagement!