Braintree Candidate Profile: Donna Connors For Town Council

BRAINTREE, MA — November's election will bring some new faces to the Town Council. There's 17 candidates running for nine seats, and five of those races are wide-open.

The District 3 race is among those races with open seats. Town Councilor Thomas Bowes didn't seek re-election after running for mayor. Donna Connors, Joseph Lydon and Shawn Cody will compete to fill the seat.

Patch asked the candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near. Here's a little about Connors before the Braintree town election on Nov. 5.

Previously on Patch:

• Braintree Candidate Profile: Thomas Reynolds Jr. For Mayor
• Braintree Candidate Profile: Charles Kokoros For Mayor
• Braintree Candidate Profile: Timothy Carey For Town Council
• Braintree Candidate Profile: Lawrence Mackin For Town Council
• Braintree Candidate Profile: Julia Flaherty For Town Council
• Braintree Candidate Profile: David Ringius For Town Council
• Braintree Candidate Profile: Steve Sciascia For Town Council
• Braintree Candidate Profile: Gisca Bonhomme For Town Council

The single most pressing issue facing Braintree is ____, and this is what you intend to do about it?

The single most pressing issue facing Braintree is the lack of a long-term vision for the growth in our town. Braintree continues to grow with no vision of where we want to be in 10 years. The master plan is overdue to be updated. The last time it was updated in 1998 and was supposed to be reviewed in five years. One of my first goals if elected is to begin the process of updating the master plan. From there we can update the zoning based on the approved plan and build the infrastructure to support them. The residents must have input into these serious matters.

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

The critical differences between myself and the other candidates is my devotion to giving back to Braintree. I have and will continue to be a very active community leader. I am involved in many town sports, scouts, community volunteer positions and fostering for local shelters. I am always there to help lead the way and make it happen. I intend on carrying on these leadership roles if elected to the town council.

In addition to my dedication to Braintree as a resident, my career path has led me to my current position of chief operating officer (COO) for a ship repair company in Boston. I oversee two facilities with yearly sales of 50-60 million dollars. My responsibilities include setting and maintaining budgets, overseeing repairs and maintenance as well as negotiating large scale contracts. I am well versed in finances and am held accountable for financial goals set by the ownership.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

The issues that define my campaign platform are:

1. I am against the 40R growth and the rezoning plan proposed earlier this year.
2. I am against the compressor station they are trying to install in Weymouth and believe the town of Braintree should be more involved in the fight to keep it out.
3. I will advocate for District 3. There are several district issues including the Allen Street corridor and rising sea levels that the district will be affected long term. These areas must be developed with the longevity of east Braintree in the forefront.

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

My accomplishments both professionally and personally speak for themselves. I would not be in the position I am professionally without hard word, dedication and perseverance. I graduated from Massachusetts Maritime, shipped out at the end of Desert Storm on merchant marine vessels and then came landside. I have worked my way from an port engineer to a COO of a ship repair company. As a resident, I continue to dedicate myself to serving where I can to help shape the lives of our future Braintree constituents with my volunteer efforts. My accomplishments have been many and each one has shaped me into the person I am today, one who faces challenges head on and obtains resolution.

What's your favorite thing about Braintree?

My favorite thing about Braintree are the neighborhoods. I am third generation at my location and still have most of the neighbors on my street from my childhood days. We watch out for each other and lend a helping hand when needed. I can go knock on a door or make a call asking for help and they will be there. I believe that the neighborhoods are in jeopardy of being destroyed with the threat of high-density housing which is not what our town has been nor should it ever be.

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

I would like the voters to know that I will dedicate myself to helping make sure that the town moves forward in manner that is consistent with what the residents want. I am excited to learn more about the inner workings of Braintree and make positive changes. Braintree faces many challenges in the near future, and I am ready to be a part of the solution for those challenges.