Smith Hopes to Bring 'Common-Sense Approach' to Board of Selectmen

When Easton Planning Board member Dan Smith pulled selectmen nomination papers in 2010, he realized quickly that it wasn't the right time for such a large commitment.

Now, however, he is all in.

"I considered running for the seat [in 2010], but family-wise and going through a transition professionally, it wasn’t a great time," he said. "Now, I’m in a great place. I’m working for a fantastic company. The family is doing well. My wife is supportive. She’s endorsed us throwing our hat in the ring."

Smith joins a four-person race this year. Finance Committee Chair Carol Nestler, local activist Dottie Fulginiti and local lawyer Michael Maloney are also in the hunt for one of two three-year seats that will be left vacant by Ellen Barlow and Sean Noonan.

Smith, who has two young sons, moved to Easton seven years ago for a variety of reasons, he said.

"We love everything the town has the officer – the open space, the Children’s Museum," he said. "We planned to start a family, which we have. It’s been so beneficial for us as young parents to have the open space and have a facility like Stonehill College and Borderland State Park – and, of course, the schools."

Smith grew up in Brockton and is the son of two school teachers. He graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in political science then took a job with Mass Development as a government affairs specialist.

Smith now works for Siemens.

"I joined Siemen’s about two years ago and what I oversee is alternative energy for the northeast and that role has expanded to include all energy," he said. "So I work with state government, municipalities, schools, universities, hospitals, to help them reduce energy consumption, improve their carbon footprint in an economical way that drives job growth."

He hopes to bring his experience in the public and private sector to a new role on the board - beginning with improving Easton's business climate.

He said his No. 1 priority would be to create an Economic Development Council.

"The Economic Development Council for Easton, if it’s accepted, would cut through the red tape if there is any, advocate for businesses, communicate with all the respective boards that they should be meeting with to put them in a position of success while still recognizing the fact that we’re charged with bringing good economic development to the community," he said.

Over the last three years, Smith has taken part in many of the development-related decisions in Easton through his capacity on the Planning and Zoning Board.

He said the town has done a good job in controlling its own destiny in regards to affordable housing. Currently, because it is meeting affordable housing goals, the town has the ability to deny certain affordable housing projects it sees unfit.

"The fact that the town has the opportunity to turn down developments I believe has put us in a good position to pick our projects as opposed to having the developers use the state law to circumvent the process where we have no authority over it," he said.

Smith also agrees with the town's policy to mitigate possible impacts from the South Coast Rail.

"It’s a challenge," he said. "I certainly wouldn’t want that going through my back yard. But, I believe the process is so far along that [I agree with] our approach to negotiating with the state to get all the resources that are available to us and leveraging our position to maximize that return."

Fighting the South Coast Rail legally, he said, would likely drain the town's finances.

Like other communities, Easton is working to step out of a difficult recession. Smith said that while public safety personnel is still not where it needs to be, the town has done well in preserving its finances compared to other Massachusetts communities.

"I have had the opportunity to meet with municipal officials around the state during my capacity at Siemens and there are municipalities that have been severely impacted by the economy," he said. "I believe [town administrator] David Colton and the board of selectmen have done a very, very good job of protecting our town.

"That doesn’t take away from the fact that we don’t have a fully funded police, fire and DPW. We navigated some really challenging waters and I see light at the end of the tunnel. We’re not out. There is still a lot of work to do."

Investments in funding for the town's GIS system, Pre-K, and technology in the schools are important he said.

He said he was disappointed that the school department's capital funding request of $172,000 for technology was only partially funded.

"That’s a very tough pill for me to swallow because you’re talking about technology in schools," he said.

While Smith said he will have "very big shoes" to fill should he take over for either Barlow or Noonan, he hopes to take a "common-sense" approach if he joins the selectmen.

"There should be discussions – there should be tough discussions," he said. "As long as we’re willing to communicate and disagree, I believe I bring the energy, experience and enthusiasm in both the public and private sector to compliment a lot of the other four board members – the three serving and whoever the other is."

This is the second in a 4-part series profiling all of the candidates for the board of selectmen. To read about Dottie Fulginiti, click here. Check back with Patch to read about the rest of the candidates.