Letter to the Editor Supporting Gus Murby for Medfield Selectman

We are pleased to submit this letter supporting Gus Murby’s candidacy for the Board of Selectmen in Medfield’s upcoming March 27, 2017 election. We have each had the opportunity to work extensively with Gus during his six years on the Warrant Committee, three of which he served as chair. During that time we have seen first hand Gus’s thoughtful, well-reasoned and principled approach to reviewing town operations and budgets.
Gus’s experience as Chairman of the Medfield Warrant Committee and Chairman of the Medfield OPEB Trust Fund, as well as his tenure on the Medfield State Hospital Advisory Committee, has given him a deep understanding of town operations and town finance. This understanding will serve him and the town well in his service as a Selectman.
As chair of the Warrant Committee, Gus set a disciplined tone for the management of the town's finances that was accompanied by a sincere willingness to consider new ideas introduced by town departments, town groups, and individual citizens to help keep Medfield on a fiscally prudent, but also strategic path to ensure that the citizens of our town find Medfield to be a great place to live and raise their families. Gus’s fiscally conservative approach did not hold him back from being a visionary for the future. For example, he encouraged the town to take advantage of unique opportunities, such as securing historically low interest rates to fund capital projects, and the purchase of the State Hospital land. He also encouraged the town to begin saving for our long-term OPEB financial obligations (retirement benefits for town employees) in response to changes in GASB guidelines. Medfield’s early actions in response to this issue have put the town toward the front of the pack of Massachusetts’ towns in terms of preparedness.
Gus led the Warrant Committee with an open mind and listened respectfully to all sides of an issue, yet he never hesitated to ask tough questions and hold people accountable for their answers. He was a fierce advocate for what he believed in, and wasn’t afraid to make tough decisions, all in the best interest of the town. He questioned the status quo, and was open to looking at new and unique solutions. One of Gus’s prime goals as Chair of the Warrant Committee was to increase governmental efficiency, and where possible eliminate duplication of costs among departments. Gus managed to do all of this and yet keep a respectful and conciliatory relationship with all of the town officials with whom the Warrant Committee came in contact. While not every official always agreed with Gus’s point of view, they likely went away feeling that they had been treated fairly by someone whose only agenda was to serve the interests of the citizens of Medfield.
Additionally, Gus’s professional background uniquely prepares him for this role. He is a graduate of West Point, and is a veteran of the U.S. Army where he served for five years as an Armor officer. He then went on to get a master’s degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Finally, Gus has over 25 years of management consulting experience, including such positions as a partner at Price Waterhouse Coopers, where he was Practice Director for the Project Management and Change Implementation Practice. Gus’s management consulting experience will be a key asset to the town in light of the Board of Selectmen’s role in overseeing town government. This is especially true given the fact that Medfield will likely embark on a period of administrative transition over the next few years.
Gus and his family have lived in Medfield for 22 years, and his children have been educated by the Medfield school system. He has seen first hand both the benefits and the challenges of living in a small town, and he has experienced the change that has occurred within Medfield over the past two decades. Because of this, Gus understands the responsibility of honoring Medfield’s past, yet he is well-equipped to help Medfield plan for the future.
Gus has proven himself to be a problem-solver, a leader, and a committed advocate for the Town of Medfield. For all of these reasons, we urge everyone to vote for Gus Murby for Selectman on Election Day, Monday March 27, 2017!
Nick Athanasiadis
Martha Festa
Dave Fischer
Barbara Gips
Joanna Hilvert
Tom Marie
Marie Nolan
Tim Nugent
Jim O’Shaughnessy
Robert Skloff
Greg Sullivan
Maryalice Whalen
Jack Wolfe