After Careful Consideration, Jackie Lavender Bird Gets My Vote

I write this letter to strongly encourage Melrose voters to support and vote for Jackie Lavender Bird for Mayor.

We are truly fortunate to have so many superb candidates running for Mayor. Each candidate brings a notable variety of talent, vision, and experience to the table. I have personally struggled to decide which candidate to support, as each one would be a great choice. However, I have recently had the privilege of meeting Jackie and discussing with her the challenges confronting our great city.

Jackie has a wealth of varied leadership experience. This includes her work as Alderman-at-Large, Director of Marketing and Communications at Mystic Valley Elder Services, and as Director of Community Services and City Operations. Her resume also boasts significant leadership outside of city government, such as her service as Deputy Campaign Manager for Katherine Clark’s state senate campaign and Director of Constituent Services for Ed Markey. This variety and depth of experience is unique among our candidates making Jackie truly stand out.

She has a deep understanding of city policy and the budgeting process. When she speaks of the challenges that lie ahead, her command of the issues is clear. Most importantly, she understands the importance of communication and coordination between city officials and departments. This emphasis on collaboration applies to everything from city planning, major events, and most importantly preparing for and reacting to a crisis. I believe she is uniquely qualified to make this tight, efficient city operation a reality.

Finally, Jackie is a compassionate leader who listens actively and is open to ideas. It is clear to me that her vision for Melrose represents what she hears from members of this community. In getting to know her it’s been my experience that she’s a person of integrity, honesty, passion, and curiosity. For those reasons, I enthusiastically support her and encourage you to as well.

Mark W. Viola