Dedham 2022 Candidate Profile: Dimitria Sullivan

DEDHAM, MA - Dedham voters have a big choice to make in Saturday's election for Select Board.

There are two seats up for election because VIce Chair Sarah MacDonald decided not to run for reelection. Dimitria Sullivan, the current Select Board chair, is running for reelection. There are three challengers: Jason Brogan, Cheryl Sullivan and Erin Boles Welsh.

To help voters get to know each candidate, Dedham Patch sent all candidates a questionnaire to probe their thoughts on town issues. Here's what Dimitria Sullivan had to say.

Party Affiliation: Independent

Family: Husband - Jim Sullivan. Children – Jacqueline, 27, Alison 25, James, 19, Rory 17

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? My husband is the assistant building inspector.

Occupation: Director of Learning & Performance for the Herb Chambers Companies

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Select Board (3 years), School Committee (9 years)

Campaign website: www.Dimitria4dedham.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I'm sure that we would all agree that the last two years have been like no other. Though I am proud that through ingenuity and being adaptive, the Select Board has successfully created methods for public participation in local government over these two years, we are still navigating uncharted waters. As we enter an era of post-Covid fiscal uncertainty, our Town needs a leader who has a demonstrated record of creating practical solutions to community needs. I have that record.

Also, and maybe most importantly, I've never been involved in the Town because of a single reason or any personal agenda. It's because it's who I am. I've always believed in the greater good, community service, giving back, and the power of working together.

Dedham is filled with some of the most caring people I know. But the lack of face-to-face conversations and social media platforms have made things difficult. And, sadly, sometimes we forget that we are neighbors in the end. But with all of that, I still believe in our Town and our community. It's time to move past this. It's time to unite our Town and bring people together. And I believe that I can achieve this.

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

I understand the need for balance between moving our Town forward and appreciating our history. During the difficult financial times that many residents are experiencing, we need a leader who has the proven fortitude to understand the difference between wants and needs. As a town leader, I understand and respect that any tax increase impacts residents, particularly our seniors, those on fixed incomes, young families, and business owners.

Though the shortage of goods and spike in energy prices have put additional financial pressure on many of us, our low-and middle-income households are feeling the pinch even more. The increasing cost of everyday items like food and gas is forcing people to reevaluate their budgets and become extra cautious of discretionary spending. Many in our Town are unsure of what tomorrow brings; they are nervous, and rightfully so.

I was elected to the Select Board to represent all our citizens, and during these difficult economic times, I have dared to do just that. As a Town, we have benefited from a thriving housing market. However, as a fellow hardworking taxpayer, I know firsthand that property taxes squeeze homeowner and family budgets. Keeping Dedham affordable to all residents and allowing our residents the opportunity to remain in the Town they love and age in place is vital to me. I am committed to making fiscally balanced, responsible decisions through collaboration and controlled spending so our residents can remain in their homes while continuously creating a better Dedham.

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

Experience, understanding, and proven courage. As a sitting member of the Select Board and previous School Committee member (9 years), I understand the difference between what is under the Board’s control and what isn’t. I know first-hand how decisions are made and what the outcomes of the Boards decisions mean to the entire Town.

With my long-term, first-hand experience, I have the institutional knowledge and proven courage to strategically lead our Town while facing rising costs and a probable economic downturn. I will never make unrealistic promises that no elected official could fulfill. But what I will promise is that if I have the honor of representing you for the next three years, I will continue to bring my core values of leadership, vision, and commitment to Dedham.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

The job is never done, and I am committed to making fiscally balanced, responsible decisions through collaboration and controlled spending so our residents can remain in their homes while continuously creating a better Dedham. We enact vehicle, pedestrian & bicyclist safety measures. Evaluate our recreational and open space and the services provided to our older adults and youth.

As an experienced Town leader, I will prudently evaluate alternative housing options while understanding the implications on our services and our Town's character. And, working with other Boards and Town departments, we must review current practices regarding attracting new businesses and managing their carbon footprint and the traffic they generate for both our benefit and the business's benefit.

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

I have been an actively involved Dedham resident, serving on several boards and committees over the past 22 years. It has been an honor and privilege to have served as a School Committee member, Town Meeting member, Capital Expenditures Committee member, School Improvement Committee, PTO President, founding member of the Dedham Educational Partnership, and most recently as a member of our Select Board. Working with many community members over the years, I listened a lot during my public service, and I’ve learned a lot. As a member of the Select Board, I will always bring my work ethic, experience, and collaboration skills to the Board.

Dedham is a great place to live. Dedham is filled with incredibly hardworking and caring people, from our children, community members, empty nesters, veterans, and older adults. Our Town is well managed. We have maintained our Town’s excellent bond rating. We have dedicated Town and School staff. Our police and fire first responders do an outstanding job. And we have great services, including some everyday services that some may not think about, such as curbside trash pick-up and a robust snow removal plan.

Additionally, over the past 22 years, we have made outstanding strides in rebuilding our lagging infrastructure through solid leadership and planning. Before 2000, there hadn’t been a significant building project in 40 years. Since then, we've made significant investments in Dedham by building three new schools, a new Town Hall, a first-ever Senior Center, the new combined public safety building, the field complex at the high school, Gonzalez field, High school science and language labs, redesigning Dedham Square, purchasing the SMA Father's property on Common Street and the Striar property, a new fire truck, and our ongoing investment in our police vehicles and our road and sidewalks. In the past two decades, what we've accomplished can rival or exceed any neighboring towns.

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

As a Town leader, I have always been open to discussion and differing perspectives, and I have always welcomed alternative points of view. Through my experience, I have learned to represent all voices, interests, and neighborhoods successfully and diligently by creating an atmosphere of opinion-sharing and respectful debate where people can express their views and desires without judgment. I am a leader who has successfully built coalitions and is willing to make unpopular and sometimes tough decisions for the greater good. And though we may not agree on every issue as a community, through strong leadership and empathy, I will continue to make difficult decisions by balancing the needs of all while remembering our most vulnerable community members.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Growing up in a family who immigrated from Greece to our wonderful country during the turn of the 20th century, I’ve had a great deal of advice from different experiences. But if I had to narrow it down, I would say: From my grandmother, “pennies make dollars,” my dad, a WWII vet, “no need to boast, your actions speak louder,” to my mom, who encouraged me always to do the right thing and remember that there are "no mistakes in life, just lessons."