My last words to voters before the election

   Good morning friends, well wishers and fellow citizens. My journey to be on the board began in the fall. I had gone to a few selectman meetings and after what I saw felt compelled to run for office. Our taxes have increased 80% since FY'2002. To me this is unacceptable and you should feel the same way. I am a vocal outspoken person. I want to be our voice on the board and advocate for all of us over this tax issue. We as tax payers deserve better than this and I want to help us get to better. I want to take this time to thank all the great people I've met as I've knocked on doors, spoken to folks at speaking events and sports events. I've heard your concerns and I plan to act on your behalf to get you the results you truly deserve. I'm going to give you better if elected.
   I planned to run against the incumbents. As I've said in previous blogs, they got what they wanted from their experience and have moved one. I have 7 terrific opponents who all love this town and have good intentions. Intentions are great, but right now our town needs action on the tax issue. We needed it yesterday. I've complained in the Dedham Times for years and decided the time for complaining was over and the time to act was here. I'm in this race for all of us. I have no agenda other than to prevent us from being taxed out of town. 
   Don't get me wrong, we need to pay taxes, I get that, we all get that, but there is a limit. You reasonably expect your taxes to double in your lifetime not in less then two decades which is where we are headed. I realistically feel our town has spent too much money to try to be something we are not. We need to be true to who we are. We need to have projects that keep us true to what Dedham is going forward and do these projects within reason. We also need to develop streams of revenue and help some of our other departments be more self sufficient. 
   My plan for a civic complex would create a revenue stream. My plan for offering trade options at the high school to cut back on sending children to Blue Hills and offering tuition for night school students to learn a trade can help the schools be more self sufficient. Reaching out to our big businesses to help fund some of our bigger projects makes these businesses a partner in our town and makes them a bigger part of the community gives them tax relief and helps us fund more things. We need to start being creative and start thinking outside the box. We've done too much of the same and had too much of the same for far too long.
   I want to thank my friends who donated to my campaign. I didn't ask for much in donations but it was appreciated. I want to thank Ken Skutt and my Nephew Ed Wiener for making calls on my behalf to voters. Last but certainly not least my other nephew Daniel, My honorary Campaign Manager. I wouldn't have gone on this adventure with any other person. I blogged about Daniel previously. The link is here:
http://dedham.patch.com/groups/dan-oneils-blog/p/getting-away-from-the-politics-to-write-about-a-spe...


   I'm asking you to please consider casting one of your two votes for me on Saturday, April 12th. We can have better if we want it bad enough. This is a big choice for all of us. A vote for me is a vote for us getting back to being the best Dedham we can be! Please vote for me. Please vote for tax relief. Please vote for Better. I may be the 7th name one the ballot, but I'll be the number one guy advocating for all of us! We have an incredible town with terrific people. Thank you very much.