Braintree Candidate Profile: Lawrence Mackin For Town Council

BRAINTREE, MA — November's election is expected to bring some new faces to the Town Council. As of Tuesday, Aug. 27, there are 16 people running for the councils nine seats and four seats with open races. One of the challengers hoping to get a seat on the council is Lawrence Mackin Jr. who's running in District 6.

Mackin squares off against incumbent Timothy Carey and challenger Gisca Bonhomme. 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 Mackin before the Braintree town election on Nov. 5.

Are you running for office in Braintree? Contact Jimmy Bentley at jimmy.bentley@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Braintree Patch.

Previously on Patch:

• Braintree Candidate Profile: Lisa Fiske Heger For Mayor
• Braintree Candidate Profile: Thomas Reynolds Jr. For Mayor
• Braintree Candidate Profile: Timothy Carey For Town Council

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

Braintree is at a pivotal point, testing whether we can preserve our suburban identity and traditions, or lose it to urbanization; further stressing our already fragile infrastructure-roads, traffic, schools, water, police, fire, etc.

It has become clear to me that this election will determine the future of our town. We have a clear choice in front of us: we can protect the suburban way of life in which many of us grew up, or we can get dragged down the road to urbanization. To preserve Braintree, we must reject, not just withdraw MGL40R (high density housing), and the comprehensive rezoning proposal, as well as commission refreshing our outdated master plan, and insuring that it includes a cornerstone of, “Compatible Community Growth."

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

After study and research, I publicly oppose “The Comprehensive Rezoning Proposal.” A refreshed master plan must come first. It provides the vision of what Braintree wants to be. Then and only then craft the zoning ordinances to support the master plan vision.

Braintree is my home town. I went through the Braintree public schools and growing up I played every town sport Braintree had to offer. My family has deep roots here. These roots and experience will bring value to the Town Council, especially at this crossroads election time. I am motivated by a deep commitment, sense of history and duty to Braintree. My family has been civically involved here for decades, including elected offices to the School Committee and Town Meeting. The decisions to be made, and challenges ahead, require knowledge and understanding of Braintree history. I will be deliberative of, and decisive about, our present and future challenges.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

• 55 plus and Veterans housing, part of Compatible Community Growth. A common problem is that elder citizens who raised families here no longer need, nor can upkeep a full house, but still want to stay in Braintree. We should provide this 55 plus housing for our longtime senior residents and veterans in need.
• Traffic mitigation
• Negotiate and secure a Tri-Town water agreement and expand our water capacity.
• Address the town blighted areas, such as the abandoned and overgrown gas station on at the intersection of Liberty St and Grove St and the abandoned Motel 6 by the Braintree rotary.
• Maximize School Safety and Security
• Peterson Pool/Rink
• 2020 Town Charter review and potential change recommendations.

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

After receiving my undergraduate degree from Boston University in international relations and economics, I attended UMASS Boston and earned a master's degree in conflict resolution and negotiation. Later, I graduated from the University of Dallas with a master of science degree in cybersecurity. For six years I worked in the financial services industry, and I now work as a cybersecurity professional for an international healthcare organization.

My education and professional experience in the private sector required accomplishing goals and objectives. These skills are directly transferrable to the Town Council. Government needs more accountability and demonstrated success and accomplishments. I will bring a strong sense of accountability from the private sector to Town Council.

While working on my second master’s degree I started volunteering at a local animal shelter. Every Saturday and Sunday I would spend my mornings exercising dogs, cleaning cages, and collecting donations. I truly enjoyed doing volunteer work and one day received the best payment of all; I came in to volunteer one morning and instead I fell in love with a malnourished 1-year old stray. She came home with me and has been my loyal companion since. In doing volunteer work I learned something about myself, I get far more joy by doing for others than I do in doing for myself.

What's your favorite thing about Braintree?

We are a great town with a rich history including presidents John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and John Hancock and General Sylvanus Thayer, founder of Thayer Academy and "Father of West Point."

Braintree has always had a distinct character, and that character makes it a great place to raise a family. This character and sense of community pride was displayed in full force on March 25, when a thousand citizens turned up to voice their opposition to the comprehensive rezoning proposal. I heard their voice and I will support their wishes.

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

With the consequential issues that we now face, I seek your support. In return, I will, among other things, be deliberative of and decisive about, our present and future challenges. I will introduce creative revenue channels, without burdening Braintree residents with new taxes, institute constituent services office hours, and always return your calls. My actions, not words, will be a clear and distinct voice advocating for you; bold, courageous, and different. I look forward to meeting and talking with you about the issues that are important to you, and to our community. Please join me to preserve Braintree’s suburban ways.

I ask for your support and your valued vote on Election Day, Nov. 5.