Meet Barnstable Town Council Candidate John Crow

BARNSTABLE, MA — Local elections in Barnstable are less than a month away, and Patch is determined to help residents get to know their candidates for council and school committee.

Patch has sent candidate questionnaires to each of the candidates that will appear on the ballot in a contested race for each of those positions.

John Crow is running for a Town Council seat in Precinct 5. Find out why he's running in this election profile.

Name

John Crow

How old will you be as of Election Day?

64

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

https://electjohncrow.com/

What city or town do you live in?

I live in the Town of Barnstable in the village of Osterville.

What office are you seeking?

Barnstable Town Councilor

If you are running in a district, you can specify the district here.

Precinct 5

Education.

BA in Economics and Finance from Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania.

What is your occupation?

I’m retired after a long career with Federal Express. I was active in community when I worked, and since I retired. After a lifetime of hard work, I have time to dedicate to the Precinct.

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

I’m the youngest of three brothers. I’m particularly close with my oldest brother, who has been severely disabled since birth.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

No.

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

I’m running to give voters a Councilor who listens to them, who represents them, who speaks for them.

I want to be part of a responsive-to-citizens, transparent town government. Example: the recent citizens’ petition on wind. It should never be necessary for citizens to have to ask the Town Council to hear them, to give them straight answers.

I’m motivated to preserve for future generations what makes Cape Cod so unique by gratitude for those who have worked to do it for us. Let’s be deliberate in growth and respect the Cape’s character and environment as we work to meet residents’ and businesses’ evolving needs.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is \_\_\_, and this is what I intend to do about it.

What I hear from the people is how we will achieve well-planned, affordable offshore wind power projects. I support environmentally suitable landings: at industrial sites, sites with existing substations, or an offshore grid — what the experts recommend that also saves ratepayers over $1 billion. I support the resolutions of the OVA and the Osterville Business & Professional Association, and the petition drive by citizens who forced an Open Meeting with Councilors. I’m proud to be endorsed by Save Greater Dowses Beach. Cleaning our waters through sewering and alternative systems will remain our chief priority; let’s deal in facts about the economics. We need straight talk about who pays.

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

Listening, representing and straight talk.

Case in point: The incumbent wrote an 11-page letter about his position on landing high-voltage cables on our beaches. It's been called "word salad." It echoes the talking points of Avangrid, Inc., the wind developer. The incumbent calls residents who don't agree with him "apocalyptic." As the election approached, it appears he took it off his website and said in a mailing that he’s now all about “preserving Dowses.”

He said that what are in fact a pittance of payments from Avangrid will save us from having "the entire economic value proposition of Barnstable and Osterville in particular seriously called into question." His economic claims are factually wrong. Barnstable residents need honest information and straight talk.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

I’ll leave judgment of that to voters and say simply that I believe people deserve a Town Councilor who listens to constituents and then represents them.

A fact to illustrate the point: In two annual Town Council Strategic Planning meetings, important sessions in which the Council provides direction on major issues facing the community – including housing, economic development, finance/budgets, and the environment – the incumbent said not one word. His silence is on video.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Clean water is the centerpiece of our economy. I prioritize sewering, alternative systems, and clear information and straight talk about who pays. I support mitigating existing effluent problems by targeting sewer spending to the areas of Town with the greatest need. I encourage the aggressive pursuit of alternative systems, which can reduce nitrogen by 90 percent.

Sustainable, proactive housing solutions for locals and workers. I support addressing housing needs proactively, not just reacting to developers. I do not support big box urban-style apartment buildings, which the incumbent voted to allow in Hyannis. I do not support the unelected Cape Cod Commission’s call to change single-family zoning to dense development. And let's return some short-term rentals to housing use.

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

I’ve been active in local civic life since moving to Barnstable decades ago. Early on, my peers elected me to local leadership, dealing with the issues most impacting our Cape Cod communities. For the past ten years, as president of a Village Association, I’ve successfully collaborated with my civic counterparts across Barnstable on housing for locals and workers, crime prevention and the quality of life issues in all our villages.

I’ve spoken up for deliberate growth that respects the Cape’s unique character and environment and which best meets the evolving needs of our residents and businesses.

I’m especially proud of my work over the years with the Town of Barnstable and lots of local citizens on redeveloping the former West Bay Elementary property. Newly refurbished ballfields and tennis courts will soon be followed by a playground and restroom facilities, which will bring families and visitors to the community. It has been a pleasure to work with so many people over the years to bring a vision to life.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

You are given two ears and one mouth for a reason – always listen twice as much as you speak.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I’m neither partisan nor a politician. I haven’t sought other political office as has the incumbent, and I won’t.

You will never have to guess or wonder where I stand.

I will hear you and respond to you, and I will advance your interests.