Please Consider Voting for Fulginiti and Smith on April 30

Fiscal responsibility is the foundation of government. That is why the Town Charter created a Finance Committee to provide unbiased analysis to the Selectmen and the Town Meeting. However, fiscal responsibility alone can never be a philosophy of government because there is so much more to maintaining and growing a community than money. A “just say no to everything” ideology disguised as fiscal responsibility does not put Easton on the right path to the future.

Change is coming to our town whether we like it or not. The way our Board of Selectmen react to change will set the course for generations to come. The almost certain arrival of the MBTA, Main Street revitalization, the opening of the Shovel Shops, and the redevelopment of the old foundry site will present many challenges to our town. Change is also facing us with issues like a warming climate and a need for sustainable energy.

The Board of Selectmen’s race is a referendum on who can best lead our town through a period of exciting, but challenging change. I believe that Dottie Fulginiti and Dan Smith are those leaders.

Let’s take a look at one change that is occurring before our eyes, the development of the Shovel Shops. Candidate Dottie Fulginiti was a constructive force during the debates over the future of the Shovel Shops. Her website provided information on the alternatives and reflected her thoughtful analytical approach to change. She was able to look at all alternatives objectively and seek out the best one from both a financially responsible and a developmentally smart viewpoint. She became a constructive leader in the campaign that reduced the impact of the Shovel Shop project on the town and led to a design that respects the historical value of the site.

During the campaign we have heard a lot about how one candidate led the Finance Committee to get a better deal for Easton. While there were FinCom members who worked hard to study the financials and present them objectively to the town, the current candidate consistently voted no at every turn and apparently would have been just as happy to see the project remain with the Turners which would have meant more apartments, a poor design, and a gated community that would have cut the core of North Easton in half.

Dan Smith has also gotten a first hand look at the challenges of growth facing Easton through his service on the Planning and Zoning Board. The Planning Board has been especially active in the last year pushing for the new Master Plan Study as well as developing setback requirements that help new housing construction fit into existing neighborhoods without overwhelming them. Dan’s job at Siemens and his educational background give him a solid knowledge of the new environmental challenges coming to our town.

As the campaign has unfolded Dottie and Dan have used it as an opportunity to learn even more about Easton and its people. Ms. Fulginiti took a morning to visit all the working farms in Easton to learn first hand the problems and opportunities facing Easton’s farmers as they try to meet the demand for local produce while helping to preserve open space. Mr. Smith recently visited an Agricultural Commission meeting to listen to the issues regarding our Farmer’s Market and Community Gardens. Dan is also making an effort to go door-to-door to introduce himself to Easton residents

Both candidates seem open and approachable. They listen to people and don’t deal with fresh issues with stale preconceived notions. At the end of the day, we are all fiscally responsible because Easton must have a balanced budget. The real conflict in this election is between two candidates who believe that local government can take a pro-active stance to change and challenges, and one who believes it shouldn’t.

I support Dottie Fulginiti and Dan Smith for the Board of Selectmen, but whomever you support please vote on April 30^th. Democracy can only be preserved through the efforts of concerned citizens.

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