Beverly Candidate Profile: Kris Silverstein For City Council

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly will have contested races for City Council in Wards three and five and a contested school committee race in Ward Four this fall. Beverly Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Kris Silverstein, 58, is one of four candidates running for city council in Ward Three. The seat is opening up as incumbent James Latter is not running for reelection. Silverstein currently serves on the Beverly School Committee and is an occupational therapy associate. She and her husband Joel have two grown children.

Are you running for office in Beverly? Contact Dave Copeland at dave.copeland@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Peabody Patch.

Previously on Patch: Beverly Election 2019: Here's Who's Running

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

Housing and development in Beverly is the most pressing issue. It is an issue that I have heard a lot of concerns about when meeting with Ward 3 people. I have attended the planning board public hearing regarding the Depot II project and have been listening to citizens across the city. I hope to work with the planning board to better communicate with and educate the public on such issues that will affect our traffic, schools and city services.

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

I am the only Ward 3 candidate that is endorsed by the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus, the Mayor, City Council President and the outgoing Ward 3 Councilor. I have served Ward 3 and the city for the past 10 years on the School Committee and have volunteered for many years advocating at the state and local levels for our city. I have worked with elected officials at all levels to fight for funding and services for Beverly citizens.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community?

I believe the current City Council is thoughtful and dedicated to the citizens of Beverly. We all want good things for our city.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

• I have many years of experience working on boards and committees in Beverly.
• I am dedicated.
• I am a current member of Be Healthy Beverly, working to prevent opioid and substance addiction through Drug Free Communities Grant.
• I am a current member of the City Wide Drug Task Force where we work on providing services and supports for those in need.
• I served as a citizen advisor for the Anchor Point 40R project and Briscoe Re-use Project.
• I volunteered as a Citizen Advisor, Beverly School Committee, Standing Committee on Finance & Facilities 2005–2007.

Over the past two decades I have worked closely with Beverly’s elected officials and administrators, state government, community leaders and fellow volunteers to ensure that Beverly students have the finest education and the best facilities, while at the same time advocating for all Beverly citizens to get the services and funding we deserve. I do my homework. I participate. I engage. I have forged relationships at all levels of government. I am ready to take the skills and knowledge I have gained as your school committee representative to the City Council. I will work tirelessly for Ward 3!

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

I worked well with the Superintendent and the School Committee to develop a school budget that maintains and keeps robust programming like music and sports that keep Beverly Public Schools competitive and strong. During my tenure, there have been no cuts to programming. We increased innovative learning models. We lowered fees, especially the Kindergarten fee. We increased sports offerings and helped our school district keep up with the changing landscape of teaching and learning. Our school district is a model that other districts look to for inspiration. The experience of managing half the city's budget for the schools has made me a strong steward of spending and revenue for our citizens.

I have negotiated fair contracts with all the school’s bargaining units, experience which will lend well to city contracts.

I worked with the architects, builders, and many other stakeholders in building the new middle school. This experience will come in handy when we begin work on the new police station.

I organized a team where we researched different grade configurations for middle schools to make sure we were making a sound decision for Beverly students.

I have spent many years developing and maintaining solid relationships with our state legislators and city and school administration to advocate for Beverly citizens.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Do your homework and trust your gut!

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

I love this city and all that my family and I call home.

We have great schools, great people, arts and cultural experiences. I want our city to be the best it can be. I want to bridge my commitment to the future of our city by dedicating my efforts to the City Council.

I care deeply about bringing education, prevention and services to our community when it comes to tackling the opioid crisis and addressing vaping, smoking and alcohol use among our youth.

I am concerned about the future of our city and ensuring that we have affordable housing for seniors and veterans. I also believe that we should focus efforts on helping our young people stay in our city should they have the desire.

I believe in thoughtful budget planning with a focus on sustainability for our city and schools so we can continue to enjoy the services that we currently have without having to make cuts or painful decisions.

I want to be part of Beverly being a welcoming community .

I want to work on helping our city be a safer place to live, work and play by bringing resources to improve safety for pedestrians, drivers, bicyclists and everyone who enjoys our city.

I am consistent and dependable. I always do my homework and research issues. I have been spending my summer connecting with Ward 3 voters, listening and learning about what they feel is important to them and our city.
I have skills that can help Beverly achieve incredible things.
I remain ready to roll up my sleeves and do the work.
I am ready to bring my calm, thoughtful, collaborative approach to City Hall.

Previously Published Beverly Candidate Profiles:

Candidates for reelection are marked with an asterisk (*).

City Council, Ward Three

Euplio "Rick" Marciano

City Council, Ward 5

Don Martin *