Tewksbury Candidate Profile: Keith Sullivan For School Committee

TEWKSBURY, MA — Tewksbury will have a two candidate face-off for one School Committee seat in this year's town election, April 4. Tewksbury Patch asked the two candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles over the coming weeks.

Keith Sullivan is the current chair of the School Committee. His opponent is Sara Steele. Sullivan is a home builder and remodeler and a former correction's officer and has two children in Tewksbury Public Schools.

Last month, Sullivan was arrested at a Tewksbury-Andover high school basketball game after a conflict with Andover students. He was charged with trespassing and ordered to stay away from Andover schools pending the case resolution.

Are you running for School Committee in Tewksbury? Contact Christopher Huffaker at chris.huffaker@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Tewksbury Patch.

Previously on Patch: Ten File To Run In 2020 Tewksbury Town Election

Keith M. Sullivan

Age (as of Election Day)

48

Position Sought

School Committee

Party Affiliation

unenrolled

Family

Tania Sullivan wife, Annemarie Sullivan, daughter, Sophomore cheerleader and student at TMHS, Jonny Sullivan, son, 6th grade student athlete at Ryan school

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My brother James T. Sullivan Jr. has just begun his 20th year as a teacher at TMHS

Education

Attended Tewksbury Public Schools, graduated 1989, Associates degree from Middlesex Community College

Occupation

Previous employment. Retired Middlesex Sheriff's Correction officer, worked 20 years there. Currently, Self employed single family residential builder/remodeler, co-owner of Keith James Realty Trust for over 20 years. Also work as a Rep for the New England Police Benevolent Association since my retirement from the MSO in late 2012.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Current Chairman of the Tewksbury School Committee, 3rd year as a member of the Committee, Also serve on the North St. and Trahan School Reuse Committee. Serve as the Vice President of Tewksbury Youth Football and also am a very active member of the Tewksbury Patriotic Committee.

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am re-seeking office because I want to continue to give back to a Town that has given so much to me. I've been very fortunate in my life and a lot of great and generous people have helped me along the way. I have also benefited firsthand from many teachers, principles, coaches and community leaders. Upon my retirement from the MSO, I finally had the time available to help contribute towards helping others. I know how important the new elementary school building project is as I believe the project will be very beneficial to our town, our student and our staff. The new building will provide a brand new state of the art setting for our students that will put them in a much better environment to succeed. Our second-through-fourth grade students who are currently spread throughout four schools will upon completion be housed under one roof that will be much more secure and will allow for us to provide a much more consistent level of services for all our students and our staff.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I wouldn't necessarily categorized a single most pressing issue. My focus and approach has always been on improving student achievement and outcomes for all our students and creating a positive and healthy environment for students and staff. As we near the start of construction of the new elementary school project at the Ryan school it's our priority as a Committee to make sure that the school is built on time and within budget while minimizing the potential impact on the students that are currently at the Ryan school.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have never felt comfortable speaking about others, especially when I don't know them. This mantra has served me well during my life, throughout my careers so I will refrain from commenting about the other candidate running. I do believe that contested races are always good for any community and democracy and I wish my opponent well. I have been in her shoes and have tremendous respect for anyone that is willing to put themselves out there to run for elected office. As for me, I am a hard working experienced principled person. I am open and honest, fair and consistent, straight forward and trustworthy. I am also a team player who has learned a lot from working with a very diverse group of individuals on a vast array of boards, committees and community groups. I know first hand the importance of teamwork and am very capable working collaboratively for the benefit of any group. I believe that is why my colleagues voted me in as Chairman of the School Committee this past summer and is also why I was elected for two terms to serve as the President of the Middlesex Corrections Officers Association NEPBA Local 500 while I was working at the Middlesex Sheriffs Office.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

As stated previously my focus and approach has and always will be on improving student achievement and outcomes for all our students and creating a positive and healthy environment for all students and staff. I want to make the Tewksbury public school system the best it can be. I believe overall that we have a good school district but like anything nothing is perfect. We can always do better and I try every day to do so. The new school is obviously a big part of that from an environmental and fiscal standpoint. Voters strongly supported the new school and as a current elected official we have a tremendous responsibility to all our constituents to bring the school in on time and within the Budget. We are grateful that the town's people voted to support the new school and we owe it to them to help minimize the tax impact on families. For this years annual town meeting Tewksbury voters will notice there will not be any monetary warrant articles related to the schools. As a committee, we acknowledge the tax impact on our citizens, especially within our seniors community and we believe when the new school is built it will allow us to operate more efficiently with regards to finances.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My experience working as a Correction Officer has taught me how to always be respectful of others and how to negotiate and deal with people under the most difficult of terms. My experience as a labor leader for over 15 years has provided me with a unique perspective for a multitude of reasons. I have learned to deal with people at there worst and despite how difficult of a situation you may be dealing with or working through that you never give up. As a residential home builder and co-owner of a company, I am familiar with operating and running a business. It's taught me the importance of a budget, time frames and the importance of good decision making. Shortly after graduating high school, I was asked by then former chief of Police in Tewksbury Alfred Donovan to start a 7th and 8th grade youth wrestling program in Town which successfully led to me being hired by Wilmington High school as assistant HS wrestling coach. I have coached intermittently throughout my life and is one of my true joys and passions in life. Finally, being elected chairman of the SC is probably the greatest evidence I can cite that I can handle the job.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am a life long resident of Tewksbury. I am a product of the Tewksbury Public school system who graduated from TMHS, the class of 1989. I played many sports during my youth in Tewksbury but am most proud of the fact that I was part of the 1989 Division 2 State Wrestling team. I am married to my wonderful wife Tania who also gives back to our Town in a multitude of ways. We have two wonderful children, Annemarie a sophomore cheer leader and student at TMHS and Jonny a student athlete in the 6th grade at the Ryan. I am tremendously proud of our town and have been fully invested in our community for the better part of my life. Outside of my SC role, I coach, constantly attend fundraisers, everything from schools, PAC's and youth sports organization to into action recovery events. They are a nonprofit all volunteer program that is doing great things to help combat the opiate epidemic. I participate in town clean-ups and am a very active member of the Tewksbury Patriotic Committee that helps put on the memorial day parade and and 4th of July fire works and celebration. I cook at the senior center for some summer BBQ's and also cook and volunteer every Sunday during football season for TYF. As a SC member, I have always been accessible and accountable to constituents. I listen to all concerns from anyone who reach out to me and respond expeditiously to them.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.