Tim Kachmar, Amherst Town Moderator Candidate

Tim Kachmar

Age (as of Election Day)

52

Position sought (including ward or district number if applicable)

Amherst Town Moderator

Party Affiliation

Republican

Family

Wife Lee and 5 children

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

BS and MS in Biology from UMass Lowell

Occupation

Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs - 25+ years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Alternate on ZBA, Member of Master Plan Steering Committee

Campaign website

N/A

Why are you seeking elective office?

I completely believe that public service is a duty all citizens of this great country should perform. I have been blessed with a wonderful family and successful career and I want to volunteer and give back to Amherst.

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

People serving too long in elected and appointed positions.

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

The current Moderator is seeking his 6th term. I can offer new insight and ideas.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Our current Moderator has held the position for over 10 years and has done a great job of managing our Town’s Deliberative Sessions and elections. However, he is now running for another term. In my opinion, 10 years is a long enough time to serve your Town. There are many people and even families in town who have served in various and multiple positions for way too long. There has been an influx of new residents moving to Amherst with young families just starting out. It has become clear to me serving on the Master Plan Steering Committee that it is essential to have new representation, new views and thoughts for Amherst.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act. - George Orwell

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

My service in the US Army - leading fire support teams. Project management skills from my daily work activities and a general understanding of ordinances, regulations and regulatory guidance through my work and serving on the ZBA.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

You get out of life what you put into it.

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

Hello,

My name is Tim Kachmar and I am running for the position of Town Moderator for Amherst.

What does Town Moderator do?

• A moderator is elected every two years, in even-numbered years.
• Preside over town meetings, regulate the meeting, decide questions of order, and make a public declaration of every vote passed.
• The moderator oversees the election process from start to finish, whether it is by unofficial ballot, partisan official ballot, or the non-partisan official ballot. Upon completion of the ballot counting, the moderator files a certification of election with the town clerk that indicates the number of votes received by each candidate.
• Appoints the nine member Ways and Means Committee which oversee the annual budget process of the Town of Amherst.

My Background

I have been a resident of Amherst since 2011. For the last 7 years since buying a house in the historic Amherst village, my passion, time and definitely money have been dedicated to restoring a historic property on Mack Hill Road. Amherst’s history is so rich and established, even preceding the founding of our country. It is the perfect little New England town! Keeping it that way is a priority!

I was born and raised in Bethlehem, PA. I served in the US Army as a forward observer for the artillery at Ft. Hood and in a military intelligence unit in Germany during the first Desert Storm. I moved to MA in 1992 and obtained an undergraduate and master’s degree from UMass Lowell, both in biology. I moved to Merrimack in 1996 where I held several positions with the Merrimack Youth Association, from soccer coach to MYA Board member to MYA rep on the Merrimack Parks and Rec Committee. In Amherst, I am an alternate on the ZBA and a member of the Master Plan Steering Committee. For employment, I am one of five founders of a small pharmaceutical company and I run my own consulting business specializing in getting pharmaceuticals approved by the FDA.

Why I Am Running

Our current Moderator has held the position for over 10 years and has done a great job of managing our Town’s Deliberative Sessions and elections. However, he is now running for another term. In my opinion, 10 years is a long enough time to serve your Town. There are many people and even families in town who have served in various and multiple positions for way too long. There has been an influx of new residents moving to Amherst with young families just starting out. It has become clear to me serving on the Master Plan Steering Committee that it is essential to have new representation, new views and thoughts on what is best for Amherst.

Elections and public service are the cornerstones of our Republic. That is how citizens can enact change that is appropriate as the town’s history develops. I believe that our elections should be simple and follow the NH State Constitution. As a taxpayer and having observed many town meetings over the years, I believe our Town spending is not well-controlled, and that Way and Means needs to be an objective body rather than a rubber stamp at budget time. Anyone who has attended a deliberative session will see this. I also promise to not serve more than three terms.

Please consider voting for me March 8th. Amherst needs and deserves new representation. Thank you,

Tim Kachmar

Email:tkachmar1@icloud.com

Phone: 617-645-9926