Candidate Q & A: Dan McCabe for Housing Authority

In advance of the annual town election on March 7, Lexington Patch is posting Q&As with candidates who are running for election or re-election to town boards or committees. 

The following Q&A is with Dan McCabe, who is challenging Nicholas Santosuosso for a seat on the Housing Authority. 

Q. Please give a brief history of any town experience you have, including serving on a committee or being involved in the community.

A. I served as:

• Town Meeting Member, 1972-1996, precinct officer 1973-1979.
• Capital Expenditures Committee, 1980 - 1986, chair from 1983-1986.
• Permanent Building Committee, 1992 - 1998, chair from 1996 - 1998.
• Selectmens' Advisory Committee f0r residential alarms, 1980 - 1981.
• Lexington Public Schools System Wide Climate Committee, 1990 - 1991, and METCO Scholarship Committee from 1985 - 1995.
• Minuteman Regional Technical High School Construction Advisory, 1973 - 2002, school-wide chair from 1996-2002.
• Board of Directors for Community Nursery School, 1973 - 1976.
• Franklin School Cub Scout Master, 1978 - 1979.
• Lions Club of Lexington, 1972 - 2005, president in 1980, Board of Directors, 1985 - 1995.
• Lexington Chamber of Commerce, 1973-1994, Board of Directors from 1988-1994.
• Hancock Church Building Committee, 1978 - 1985. 
• Foster parents for New England Home for Little Wanderers, and worked in Adoption Resource Exchange as a member and trainer from 1972 - 1990.

Q. What prompted you to run for Housing Authority?

A. I have been active in starting a Tenants Association at Greeley Village where I have lived for the past 2  1/2 years.  I have found there is at times  a lack of respect for the tenants by the administration, difficulty in getting things done, and at times fear from the tenants toward the administration. The Housing Authority is sorely in need of having a resident of its housing as an official participating member. Since I have a way of getting involved in what I see as a government agency that is not responding to the needs of the people it serves, or is ambivalent towards its constituency, I felt the need to get actively involved.

Q. What do you hope to accomplish if elected?

A. Bring a new knowledge and care of the process as to what it feels like to apply and live in the residences that the Housing Authority oversees. When I served on other committees in the past, people would come to me and give me information that helped bring a new perspective to the goals of that committee. In my experience, the current Housing Authority does not seem open to such important input. In addition, considering the economic realities today, I would like to provide more accessible information to all town residents about alternative housing options.

Q. What do you think are the important issues the Housing Authority is facing? 

A. The authority is there to give direction to the town's Housing Administrator, be understanding of the residents of the housing and stay attentive to what can be done to make their situation more comfortable and safe, within the constraints of the town budget.

Q. What would you try and change?

A. Give more information as to what it is like to go through the process of being a tenant of the Lexington Housing Authority, have more information as to the day to day way tenants are effected by actions of the authority, and most importantly the administration. I have no desire to micro-manage but rather to help with the process. Bring to each meeting a renewed understanding of the goals of the Housing Authority. 

Q. What statement would you like to make in closing?

A. It is not my intention to go after my opponent; I have known him for a long time, and I respect what he has done. He was the one coming up for re-election this year, and he has already been a member of the Housing Authority for 20 years, which is much longer than I feel anyone should serve on any committee, board, etc. There is a need for a new perspective to be brought to the Housing Authority, input that only a resident of the housing can bring. Please vote, it is our duty, and while you are at it, please vote for me. Thank you, Dan McCabe.