Fontes, Matthews Announce Sudbury 2022 Campaigns

SUDBURY, MA — Two more candidates for office in Sudbury are introducing themselves to voters ahead of the March 28 election.

Katina Fontes is one of four candidates running for two seats on the Goodnow Library Trustees. Kevin Matthews is returning this year to maintain his seat on Lincoln-Sudbury Regional School Committee in a three-way race. See all the 2022 Sudbury candidates here.

Kevin Matthews

I am excited to be running for re-election for Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee. It has been an honor and a privilege to have served the communities of Lincoln and Sudbury for the last 12 years. I believe, in that time, I have been able to make a difference. I hope you consider voting for me for the L-S School Committee on March 28.

As in 2010 when I was first elected, we are again facing uncertain times; this time we are entering a post-pandemic era, with a growing war in Europe and with the economic threat of rising inflation. As before, I promise to provide steady, bold, and reasoned leadership.

RELATED: Kouchakdjian, Roberts Running For Sudbury Select Board: Letters

As a community of teaching and learning, we must prioritize our mission: the development and education of our communities’ students. It is our public charge to provide the best possible education for all of the students who enter our doors. There is perhaps no mission more important.

We must provide a safe, supportive, and sustainable environment for this period of developmental growth for our students. In order to do so, we need the appropriate resources and responsible financial management, a faculty and administration who bring educational and administrative excellence. We as a high school and a community need to work together to provide a safe environment and to inspire our children with a sense of grit and optimism toward their learning here and in their lives beyond these walls.

We as a school need to remember we serve the community in this role. And in service, we work together with the community, the families of our students, and the taxpayers and always remain sensitive to the needs of the community.

While we have the tools to guide and develop our students, our families depend upon us to heed their concerns and the taxpayers require us to manage their resources responsibly and efficiently.

I promise to serve the community openly, honestly, and always with a sense of urgency. You have entrusted this committee with tremendous responsibility. I hope to earn your trust once again. I ask for your vote on March 28. www.matthewsforls.com.

Katina Fontes

I am pleased to announce my candidacy for Goodnow Library Trustee. In 2003 family went house-hunting in Sudbury, and the beauty of the Goodnow Library instantly struck me. And after we moved to town, I quickly learned that the library was an amazing community resource.

I have always loved books and reading. The local town and school libraries where I grew up had a limited collection, yet it was enough to help me access the books I needed to write school reports and learn the world beyond my small town. Today I live in a community with a top-notch library and access to an entire network of library resources through the Minuteman Library Network (MLN). We are fortunate here in Sudbury to have the Goodnow, and that is always in the back of my mind.

I am running for many reasons. First and foremost, as a Trustee, I could continue to give back to my community. I have served on multiple boards in the past two decades, including The Wayside Inn Foundation (TWIF), Sudbury Historical Society, and Sudbury Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission (SDEIC). This role would take my service to the next level. I also wish to share my research and educational programming expertise from my current work as the Education Coordinator for TWIF and past university teaching in history and education.

Second, I will bring an eye toward current and emerging trends in DEI through my current SDEIC membership and past teaching of preservice teachers on this subject at Lesley University. This work gives me a unique perspective on how the Goodnow Library might be more inclusive, increase staff diversity, and promote equitable practices.

Finally, my combined work and service provide me with a fresh perspective I believe is needed on the Board of Trustees. Thinking collaboratively and outside the box are my strengths, and these skills will greatly benefit the Goodnow Library.

The Goodnow Library does a great job of being welcoming and adjusting its services to meet the needs of the community. Still, like all organizations, there is always room for improvement. I believe that I have the knowledge and skills needed to guide it toward its future self. Serving as a Trustee would be an honor. Please vote on March 28.