June Lemen, Nashua Board of Public Works Candidate

June Lemen

Age (as of Election Day)

63

Position Sought

Board of Public Works

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

I have one daughter, Lucy, who is 20.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

I have a Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts. I majored in Philosophy and minored in Classics.

Occupation

Writer. I have always earned my living as a writer --- I spent over 20 years as a technical writer in high-technology. As a technical writer, I worked at Digital, AT&T, and Hewlett-Packard. I took time off when my daughter was young, and during that time I freelanced. Most recently, I worked as a Communications Specialist for the Center for Women & Work at UMass Lowell. I also spent 30 years as the Lifestyles columnist for the Nashua Telegraph.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

I am currently serving on the Amimal and Dog Park Advisory Committee, to which I was appointed by Mayor Donchess.

Campaign website

https://www.facebook.com/JuneBPW

Why are you seeking elective office?

I think I can make a positive contribution to the Board of Public Works. I like infrastructure, because I like to know how things work, and once I know how things work, I can contribute to making good, solid decisions for Nashua.

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

The single most pressing issue facing our city is divisiveness and incivility, and what I intend to do about it is to conduct myself in the manner befitting a public servant. I will be polite, I will listen, and when I disagree with other people, I will do it in a respectful and courteous manner.

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

I do not think all of them are committed to respecting other community members.

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

I don't know if they've failed, but one positive thing I think COVID-19 brought us was outdoor dining. I am in favor of expanding outdoor dining, as is Paul Shea. Tracy Pappas and Laurie Ortolano are not.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I think local officials responded well. I would not have done things differently. I think it would be nice if policy was consistent state-wide, but that's a state issue, not a Nashua issue.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I am committed to doing what is best for the health and safety of Nashuans. Public works is not a glamorous subject, but it is vital to the well-being of everyone who lives in this city. I am looking forward to finding out more about better ways to recycle; how to protect the city's water supply; and how we can make the city a great place to live for everyone, no matter what neighborhood you live in.

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

All of them! Seriously, I have gained different skills from the different jobs I have held. As a technical writer, I learned how to listen to engineers, ask questions about software, and write about that software so that people could use it. As a freelancer, I had clients ranging from a protein crystallographer to a data-mining consultant, so I've learned how to write on a variety of subjects. I served on the Board of the Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter for fifteen years, and not only did I learn about the issues of homelessness and hunger, I learned that the perception of an issue is as powerful as the issue itself. As a member of the Mount Pleasant PTO, I learned that a bag of popcorn can be a powerful motivational tool.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"Don't sweat the small stuff."

And, as we know, most of it is small stuff.

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

When I commit to something, I give it my all.