Q&A With Ben Franco: Running for Brookline Selectmen

On May 2, Brookline voters are headed to the polls to vote to fill seats on public boards including the Library's Trustees, the School Committee and the Board of Selectmen. Patch sent questions to the three candidates running for the two open seats at the Board of Selectmen table in an effort to help readers get to know the candidates. See the bottom for links to what the others had to say. But for now, here's what Incumbent Ben Franco had to say.

PATCH: What, to you, is the biggest issue facing Brookline today?
FRANCO: Brookline’s biggest immediate pressures stem from the need to expand the public schools in the face of rapid enrollment growth. Since 2005, Brookline has seen enrollment growth of 28 percent across the district. The rapid growth in enrollment has placed pressure on the Town and School Departments’ finances and on our available space. Over the past decade, Brookline has streamlined operations and undertaken efficiencies to delay large property tax increases, and has converted common spaces and renovated schools to create needed classrooms. Still, there is demand for more teachers and educational space; how to fulfill the demand for the financial resources necessary to hire teachers and create classrooms is a question that, in turn, begs numerous additional questions.

What are some ways to solve that problem(s)?
The Selectmen must support school expansion strategies that preserve a high-quality educational experience while simultaneously controlling costs and maintaining Town services. After five years of study the best, and most cost efficient, way to do this is to construct a 9th elementary school, expand Brookline High School, and place a responsible operating override on the ballot for voter approval.

Why are you running for selectman?
I am running for a second term as a Selectman to ensure that Brookline continues to be a great place to live and raise a family. In my first term, I have fought to preserve Brookline’s high quality schools, to promote responsible community-oriented development, and to maintain existing high-quality Town services. In the face of growing school enrollment and increasing budget pressures, I have worked to retain Brookline’s Aaa bond rating, which lowers our borrowing costs. I hope to continue this work for another three years.

What do you think the most difficult part of the job will be?

Over the next three years there will be many needs and wants completing for limited resources. The most difficult part of the Selectmen’s job over the next three years will be to prioritize the numerous projects and initiatives the Board will be asked to support. Choosing between competing worthy proposals is one of the hardest things we do, but it is necessary, especially in the face of revenues that are not keeping pace with increasing demand for Brookline’s core municipal services.

What's something you think the current board can do differently?

Communication between Town government and the residents of Brookline needs to be improved. This is something I've heard repeatedly over the last year, and it is a message I've taken to heart. Should I get reelected, I plan to work with my colleagues on the Board, with Brookline’s professional staff, and with community leaders to identify where Town communication falls short and to create a plan for how and where improvements can be made.

What do you think you bring to the role of Selectmen that no one else does?

What sets me apart as a Selectman is my familiarity with the Town and how it is run. I am a lifelong resident, a product of the Brookline public schools, and, for nearly the past decade, I have been deeply involved in governing the Town. The combination of familiarity with our community, its people, and history, and how Brookline has tackled its challenges while maintaining its high quality of life makes me uniquely qualified to serve on the Board of Selectmen.

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Also: Check out what Donnelle S. O'Neal and what Heather Hamilton had to say about the biggest issues facing the town.