Crawford Highlights Considerable Experience in Selectman's Campaign

Selectman candidate Phil Crawford is highlighting his three decades of experience in the financial industry plus his almost equally long involvement in the community of Lynnfield.

Crawford, who announced is campaign in January, is running against Tom Kennedy in the race for the one year remaining on the seat formerly held by the late Al Merritt - who announced his endorsement for Crawford in the race soon before his death.

The second selectman's race in the 2013 town election pits incumbent board chair Bob MacKendrick against Tom Terranova.

In a recent conversation with Lynnfield Patch, Crawford cited his three decades in the finance industry, working in public construction bonds and other areas, plus his more than 25 years as an active town resident, in laying out his case for the one-year selectman's term.

Along with serving on the town's fields study committee, Crawford is currently in his third year as vice chair of the town finance committee - and reports that it has very much been a learning experience. "You learn more every day," said Crawford, adding that one's first couple of years on a major town board tend to mostly involve learning.

Noting the one-year term that he and Kennedy are running for, Crawford said that his experience is key, "especially for a one-year seat."

"Anyone else getting in there would spend a whole year getting an education," he added.

Crawford is also running for selectman at a time when the town is eyeing some long-term decisions that will have great importance to its future. The MarketStreet Lynnfield is seen as a major boost for the town's finances, but not the complete long-term solution - especially since a number of projects, ranging from a new public safety complex to an expanded town hall and senior center - and further down the road, an expanded or new library. "Any big projects are going to be a (Proposition) 2 1/2 override," said Crawford, adding that the town has no demand for an override or a tax increase right now.

"It's nice to say it, but how are you going to pay for it all?" said Crawford.

The town's fields project is also in a much different place now than many first envisioned. The originally proposed parcel of land for the fields project turned out to be unsuitable due to wetlands and other factors. Now, the plan is more focused on expanding existing town athletic spaces while also eventually adding components such as the rail trail project.

Crawford emphasized that town taxes will not be raised to fund the fields, but that funding will instead be sought through grants and private sources. A warrant to authorize a new study for engineering on the high school and middle fields could be put before voters at the October town meeting, he said.

With these and other projects possibly in the town's future, Crawford maintains that his experience is best suited for Lynnfield at this time.

"I think it's important that you have that kind of background," he said.