Carol Nestler, An Outstanding Candidate for the Board of Selectmen

Although I have been a resident of Easton for more than thirty years, I have had limited involvement in the politics of the town.  My appointment to the Finance Committee last summer, however, has provided me with the opportunity to participate in town government and to observe the efforts of others on behalf of our town's citizens.  The person who has most impressed me with her honesty, hard work, and desire to protect the interests of the residents of Easton is Carol Nestler, a candidate running for election to the Board of Selectmen.

To maintain integrity in government, elected officials must be willing to take a stand for what they believe is right.  Voting one's conscience rather than going along with the popular stance is often difficult to do.  After investigating issues under consideration by the Finance Committee and discussing those issues at committee meetings, Carol has demonstrated the courage to vote in a responsible way.  She is willing to meet with citizens and other elected officials to explain her thinking, especially when consensus could be reached by developing more comprehensive plans or providing additional information.

To become informed about the issues concerning the town requires time and energy.  Carol invests the time to find and read the information that allows her to reach an informed opinion.  For example, as a member of the Finance Committee and currently its chair, she carefully reviews monthly budget updates that might indicate future budget shortfalls.  When assigning department budgets to committee members for review and discussion in preparation for making recommendations to town meeting, she willingly takes on at least an equal share of the workload.  Carol reaches out to other town officials to arrange meetings for joint discussion of issues.  She even attends outside educational events such as a recent seminar on the future distribution of local aid.

Carol's motivation in her four years on the Finance Committee has been protecting the financial interests of the town's citizens.  Her educational background in accounting and finance provide a solid basis for analyzing budget requests and proposals.  During the recent recession with the resulting limited available funds, Carol's knowledge of finances enabled her to make fiscally responsible decisions and recommendations to the town.  These decisions were consistently made with an eye toward promoting the common good for the citizens of Easton.

The above qualities which have made Carol Nestler an effective member and chair of the Finance Committee make her an outstanding candidate for the Board of Selectmen.

Elaine Hanson