Darlene Mercer-Bruen Ward 5 Alderman Campaign Announcement

The following text was provided by the candidate as an election announcement:

Dear Fellow Ward 5 residents:

I am writing to you today with a grateful heart to thank you for the opportunity to work with you side by side as your city councilor. It has been an honor and truly a privilege to represent you and collaborate with you.

Together we have worked to build new schools across our city, including East Woburn’s Goodyear elementary. We have worked together to refurbish Leland Park, built walking trails at the Cranberry bog, and opened the Aberjona Nature Trail off of Salem Street, which provides us with another beautiful place to enjoy the outdoors right here in Ward 5.

When you are not using the parks, you have probably noticed we have several major infrastructure projects happening in Ward 5. Together we lobbied for the funds to widen Montvale Ave, rebuild a deteriorating Salem Street bridge, and, just as important, reconstruct the exit from Pine Street to Salem Street for safer vehicular access. These infrastructure improvements are most certainly dirty, dusty, and disruptive, but it won’t be long before we can all enjoy the benefits of these modern streets and the bridge.

Together we have secured an additional $700K per year of funding toward our existing Chapter 90 funds for repaving our residential streets. At the same time, we established a 5-year plan that lists worst streets to minor repairs. Many of the streets scheduled for repaving have already been done right here in Ward 5, with more to come before the snow flies in November.

Together we have consistently held absentee landlords accountable; we will not let them devalue our homes or jeopardize the safety of our neighborhoods.

Together we have held neighborhood meetings to work to resolve a variety of issues, including speeding, cut-through traffic, mail delivery and rodent concerns, flooding, etc.

Together we have pushed for responsible developments that fuel our economic engine, which gives us fiscal independence and property taxes enviable by all of the surrounding communities.

As many of you know, I am a lifelong resident of this great city of Woburn. My husband Steve and I purchased my childhood home 26 years ago, and we are raising our 3 daughters, Cassidy, Camille and Claire, here on Richard Circle.

Woburn is a much different place than it was when I was growing up, but what is not different is the kind of people who live here. We are a diverse group of residents who care about our neighbors. We watch out for each other. It is a special place.

The work we have accomplished together would not be possible without the support of my fellow city council members, the Mayor, our state delegates, DPW, Building Dept., Engineering Dept., Recreation, Conservation, Historical, Water Dept., Legal, Planning, Treasurer, Auditor, Clerk’s Office, Health Dept., school officials, and of course our amazing men and women of the police and fire departments. Every one of these departments has helped me help you. I am grateful for their professional guidance, expertise, and support.

I am proud of the work we have accomplished, both past and present, but there is still much work to do. Despite some recent traffic signal upgrades on Washington Street, congestion must be addressed in a way that gets the cars off of this corridor. The installation of a slip ramp at Cedar Street will bring sustainable, practical relief to the congestion. With the recent support of the Mayor, city council, and partnerships with local businesses, a conceptual study of this project was approved and reviewed in early October. Working together, we will bring this effort to completion. Thank you again for the opportunity to work with you. On Tuesday, November 5th at the Goodyear School, I respectfully ask for your vote so that we may continue our work together.

As always, if you have questions/concerns/suggestions,please feel free to contact me anytime at 781- 937-3161 (H) or 774-259-6132 (c) or email @bruen-n-bruen@comcast.net.

With Deepest Gratitude,

Darlene Mercer-Bruen

774-259-6132

This press release was produced by Darlene Mercer-Bruen. The views expressed here are the author’s own.