Marlborough Candidate Profile: David Garceau For Mayor

MARLBOROUGH, MA — It's no Halloween prank. Marlborough police officer David Garceau made it through the Oct. 8 mayoral preliminary election with 666 votes, almost double the third-place finisher.

On Nov. 5, Garceau will face off against incumbent Mayor Arthur Vigeant — a formidable candidate who is seeking his fifth term as mayor, and who earned over 1,450 votes in the primary. Garceau, 62, is running a self-financed campaign, and wants to get in office to fix what he sees as over-development on Marlborough's west side. The 39-year Marlborough police veteran sees a crisis of over-taxed first responders in the city's future.

As with all candidates running in Marlborough races in 2019, we asked Garceau to answer the Patch candidate questionnaire. Here's how he responded:

The single most pressing issue facing our city is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I believe at present time, the single most pressing issue of the rapid development that has grasp this city. In the wake of development in the west of the city, traffic congestion and depletion of any open space along with the stress on city emergency services and increased response time to answer calls for service as well as those critical calls involving life and death.

I intend to address the public safety issues to increase the safety and well being of the residents and visitors to the west end of the city, namely pushing for the acceleration of much needed westerly fire station.

At present time I feel that life and death as well as the overall safety of the west end has taken center stage to my initial platform.

I fell that the priorities of local government are out of sequence and this is the top priority that needs to be resolved as the first major project concern.

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

The current mayor has had a set agenda of economic development in the city without regards to the feelings or needs of the people who reside in this city. He has projected that economic development in Marlborough will lessen the tax burden on residents.

I believe there has been little or no shift in burden on the taxpayers and that services have not changed in regards to his assurances.

I don't believe the mayor of Marlborough has been a compassionate mayor when caring for the people. I believe he has an agenda that more set to the big business interests in this city and has had no genuine concerns for Marlborough's people for some time.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

My platform design not only addresses the immediate issues of the community but also details how the city has done little or nothing in regards to our clean water system where the city passes the financial burden on the people for their water needs rather than utilize the natural water resources of our reservoir system that would save the city and taxpayers substantial amounts of money. Marlborough's Clean Water System is currently offline and has been for the past 5 years. The water system needs to be resurrected and maintained to the state standards as well as Marlborough's resident expectations.

Green space and land acquisition for future city needs have been sidelined and recent led to the construction of a new elementary school in a time fit location. All because of a lack of future planning.

The anticipated arrival of the retiring baby boomer population as well as disabled Marlborough residents will increase the city's responsibility to care for those residents in need. Marlborough residents serve to live in the same community they have called home not to be placed in long 40B waiting lists.

A comprehensive Public Safety Plan where increased needed emergency services and security measures are in place to maximize the overall safety in this city.

To create a closer working relationship with the Marlborough Educations Dept. where the mayor is not only a working component with the Public School System but also a frequent figure in the Marlborough Public Schools. Connecting with students, educators and parents so that the public school system develops more to a partnership rather than a city service.

A mayor for the people is what this city needs right now and has needed for sometime.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Be honest and treat people as you would your own family. Treat people the right way to build their confidence and trust.

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

Being a long time Police Officer in the city as well as a lifelong resident of Marlborough, I have had not only the honor and privilege of serving this community and it residents. The trust from it's residents as well as the life long friendships I gained have led me to believe that Marlborough is a hometown place. A country kind of city worth protecting so we can not only share the memories of but pass onto our future generations.

What we pass onto our children is a reflection of who we are and how we cared for Marlborough. I think it's not only incumbent upon us to preserve what we have left but to take pride in the quality of this community we call Marlborough.