Election 2018: Priest Running For Selectman As Political Upstart

BURLINGTON, MA -- Burlington voters head to the polls on April 7 for municipal elections. Patch reached out to candidates running in contested races for their thoughts on the issues facing Burlington. This is the third in an occasional series profiling the candidates running for selectman.

You could argue that Nicholas Priest practices what he preaches: he wants to increase participation in local government. But he's not just talking the talk: Priest has jumped into a crowded selectmen's race in Saturday's Burlington town election.

Priest and Virginia E. Mooney of Mohawk Road are the challengers in a four-way race for two seats on the Burlington Board of Selectmen that are up for reelection. Michael Runyan and Joseph E. Morandi are the two incumbents.

Priest, 33, works in marketing and is married to Town of Burlington administrative assistant Jennifer Priest. The couple have a son and a daughter.

We asked Priest and all candidates in contested races in the April 7 town elections a series of questions on the issues facing Burlington. Here's what he had to say

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

There are plenty of issues worth discussing as an answer to this question, from water to traffic. But an issue that needs to be addressed for the betterment of our town and the future growth of our town is communication. Local government has an opportunity to be more proactive to engage with our citizens. No longer can we rely solely on one's civic duty. We have to invigorate and drive people to want to be involved.

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

The biggest difference is perspective. Coming from the marketing/advertising industry I have a unique perspective when it comes to engagement, strategic initiatives, long-term planning, tactical development and execution. I work in rare disease healthcare advertising and spend a great deal of time with legal teams to understand the law and ensure that what is implemented is within legal guidelines. All of the skills and experience I have are completely transferrable from my current role to that of Selectman.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

It's not about failure as it is a need to shift the mindset of our leadership. We have come a long way in Burlington from when I was growing up here. We offer a lot more than other towns around us and we have a strong tax-base. But when you don't keep the town informed as to what is going on and make the information easy-to-understand and easily accessible you begin to create confusion and misinformation begins to spread. It would be my resolve to look for community-driven solutions and drive toward a more connected community where all of our voices are heard.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Top of this list is the handling of our water supply. The good news is we have options. Now comes the hard part of ensuring all of our homework is done and the data has been reviewed so that we can make a well-informed decision for the future of Burlington. I also want to look at housing in Burlington. We have been aging seniors out of our town who have spent their lives here, raising families here, and calling Burlington home. What's worse, given all of the recent tear downs and construction young couples/families are finding it very difficult to move into Burlington.

If you gain this position, what accomplishment would define your term in office as a success?

Increased community awareness and involvement/engagement. I want to bring Burlington together. Growing up here I remember what a close-knit community we were. Now we live in "pocket communities". We aren't whole, but we can be.

Please share with voters a story about wisdom gained from a mistake you made in your life or career.

I've made plenty of mistakes in my life. To admit to anything else would be a lie. What I will say is that every mistake I've made has been an opportunity for me to learn and grow. It's when we stop trying to learn, when we no longer feel that we need to make improvements, adjustments, alterations that we begin to lose sight of who we are and what we are capable of.

Why should voters trust you?

I'm looking to build bridges and work for this town. For me it's about making home the best place possible. As a lifelong resident of Burlington I only have the best interest of this town and its citizens at heart. My father was a police officer in town for the better part of four decades, I am a product of the Burlington school system, I have utilized the services of this town, and my wife and I have decided to raise our children here. Burlington is home.

Share a quote that defines your philosophy:

"Words may show a man's wit, but actions his meaning." - Ben Franklin. As a writer I love this quote because it bridges the gap between the importance of intellect and understanding with the purpose and importance of action.

What questions should be asked of current government employees accountable to your board?

These are the experts we rely on daily to ensure that our town is running optimally. I would ask, what more could we be doing? What plans, initiatives, and goals can we begin to set for ourselves both now and down the road.

Explain your attitudes toward fiscal policy, government spending and how taxpayer dollars should be handled by your office (or board)?

I believe that taxpayers like to see value for their tax dollars and that we (the town of Burlington) owe them the courtesy of making sure their dollars are spent judiciously. We obviously did not get to where we are today through poor spending or poor fiscal management. So let's continue to rely on our fiscal advisors and accounting team to provide the expert opinions and advice as we continue to grow Burlington in healthy and productive ways.

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

I have extensive experience in understanding and interacting with the law given my career. I have held positions that required me to be a hiring manager for both internal staff as well as vendors and partners. I work with clients on a daily basis to manage their annual budgets with regard to return on investment and spending. I grow community awareness and engagement on a daily basis for brands on a national and global level. I'm looking forward to bringing these attributes to the Board of Selectmen to look at what we need today and beyond.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

"The more you grow into a helpful person, the happier you'll find this world of ours is." That is a quote from Mr. Rogers himself. Next to my parents Mr. Rogers played a pretty big role in shaping my understanding of kindness and what it means to care. I want to help and I know that helping and kindness are contagious in the best ways possible.

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

I am an avid reader. I love research and understanding how things work. I love spending time with my wife and my two children. Being a father has brought more joy to my life than I can even describe. From a career perspective I have worked for companies large and small, nationally and globally and no matter where I go I make it my job to be a problem-solver. I never accept excuses as answers and I love working together with a team to come up with new, innovative solutions.

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Are you running for office in Burlington on April 7? Contact Dave Copeland at dave.copeland@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Burlington Patch.

Photo by Nicholas Priest.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).