Reading Selectmen Candidates State Their Case

To the 4,097 Reading residents who voted no on the fall override, Andy Friedmann knows you're out there.

Friedmann is one of three candidates for two open spots on the Reading Board of Selectmen. The other two candidates are current board members, John Halsey and Kevin Sexton. Halsey and Sexton were part of the five-man board that put the failed override question in front of voters in October. And Friedmann? Don't blame him for the vote, which asked residents to approve a $7.5 million override.

The three men appeared Monday at a Coffee with the Candidates discussion, sponsored by the Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce. In a room with maybe 25 people, few were undecided voters. Most were affiliated with either one of the candidates, the Chamber of Commerce, or working. The event was televised on Reading's cable station.

With business the focus, the word "override" was never spoken and the questions centered on a split tax rate along with how best to stimulate the local economy. As always seems to come up, the three candidates spoke of Reading's fiscal challenge when 92 percent of its revenue comes from residential taxes, with businesses contributing the remainder. None of the three were in favor of a split tax rate, except to say they supported tax breaks for the town's senior citizens.

Friedmann, 54, spoke of bringing his government experience to the position, something he said was lacking on the current board. A former biology and chemistry teacher, Friedmann works for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. While Sexton and Halsey were all business, Friedmann was more business casual, the only one who didn't wear a suit and tie. In fact, glance at Friedmann's Facebook page and you'll see his wife, his kids, and videos on why he wants to be elected. But you won't see a tie anywhere.

Sexton, the youngest of the three at 41, talked of "putting more feet on the pavement" to generate business and explained that being a bedroom community made "growing the pie" very difficult in Reading. He mentioned a Boston University study that said Reading's future lies in 20 somethings and baby boomers. Sexton is currently the vice-chair of the board.

Halsey, 67, in an effort to show what Reading was already doing, brought handouts to the event, including "A Retailer's Gut Check," a how-to guide for business success, and "Doing Business in Reading," a nuts-n-bolts overview of the requirements needed for a business in town. He also brought copies of the local paper with bios on the three candidates. Halsey is the current chairman of the board of selectmen.

Being an incumbent is often a plus in elections. Unless you remember the angry mob of 4,097. Heading down in the elevator after the event, Friedmann wouldn't reveal how he voted on the override. But if a "no" in October translated to a "yes" for Friedmann in April, he won't complain.

The election is April 4.