Marlborough Councilor Sean Navin Running In 2023 For New Seat

MARLBOROUGH, MA — Marlborough's 2023 election is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in years.

For the first time in a decade, there's an open race for mayor with Mayor Arthur Vigeant stepping down at the end of the year. There are also five competitive city council races for At-Large, and the Ward 2, 4, 6 and 7 seats. The Ward 6 race is wide open with incumbent Sean Navin running for an at-large seat in 2023.

To help voters decide who they'll pick ahead of the November election, Patch has asked each candidate — even those running unopposed — to answer candidate questionnaires. Here's how Ward 6 Councilor Sean Navin answered:

Name: Sean Navin

How old will you be as of Election Day? 41

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here: https://www.SeanNavin.com

What office are you seeking? Councilor-At-Large

Please give us your party affiliation: Democrat

Education: I am a proud graduate of Marlborough High School (Class of 2000!), I graduated from Stonehill College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

What is your occupation? Director of Public Affairs at the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them: My wife, Jessica, and I have been married for nine years. We live on Bolton Street with our son, Giovanni, who just turned two. My sisters, Maura and Bridget, and I grew up here in Marlborough, raised by our parents, Joseph and Maria Navin.

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective? For the past four years, I have had the honor of serving Marlborough’s Ward Six residents as their Ward Councilor. I have spent most of my professional career in the public sector serving in several appointed roles, including: District Representative for Congressman James P. McGovern, Deputy Policy Director for Governor Deval L. Patrick, and as Assistant Secretary at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

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 am running for Councilor-At-Large for the same reasons that I first ran for City Council four years ago — I love this city and want to serve my community. I continue to believe that local government is the place where you can make the biggest difference in people’s everyday lives. I am thankful for the trust the residents of Ward Six have given me and have truly enjoyed getting to know and represent them these past four years. I look forward to continuing the work we started and to use the skills I have developed to serve the broader community.

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

The number one concern that I hear from our residents is the amount of growth and building that we see in our city. The community understands that economic growth is a vital part of our success and a way to keep property tax increases reasonable. However, many residents, myself included, are concerned that the rate and type of growth is not always in line with what is best for our community in the long run. There are concerns that the impacts to our roads, schools, and critical city services outweigh the proposed economic benefit.

I am in favor of responsible economic development policies. To me, this means creating a partnership between our city and the developers and business owners who want to invest here. In order for this to succeed, both sides need to benefit. This means supporting a project when it benefits our residents first and also incentivizes businesses to invest here. However, it also means rejecting proposals that would disproportionately benefit private industry at the expense of our city and its residents.

During my time on the Council, I have voted in favor of development projects that will help revitalize parts of our city and for incentives that have brought large companies and their employees here because they will benefit our community in many different ways. I have also voted against projects that I believe will strain our valuable resources, such as our schools and infrastructure. As Councilor-At-Large, I will continue to prioritize responsible economic development on behalf of all Marlborough residents so that we continue to build the community we want and deserve.

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

All the candidates in this race bring something different to the table. My years of experience in various positions across local, state, and federal government provide me with the skills and understanding to be an effective advocate for the residents of our community. As the parent of a young child that is only a few years away from entering our public school system, I believe I bring a unique perspective and focus to the council that will help make the best decisions for our community today while ensuring that the next generation is set up for success in the future.

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

Four Councilor-At-Large positions are being elected on November 7th. Three incumbents are running, and one seat is open, so I do not view this as challenging an incumbent. I have had the opportunity to serve with the three current At-Large Councilors for the past four years and am proud to call them colleagues. While we don’t agree on every issue and we may approach particular policy areas differently, I know each of us tries our best every day to serve the community.

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

The issues I have been highlighting on my campaign are the same issues I actively work to address every day as a Ward Councilor

• Keep property taxes reasonable
• Invest in our aging infrastructure
• Ensure our schools have the resources to support our students
• Support our public safety departments and build a West Side Fire Station
• Expand services and opportunities for our seniors
• Provide our veterans with access to critical resources, support, and services
• Protect open space and invest in our recreational assets
• Continue to advocate for responsible economic development policies that prioritize community benefits

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

Beyond my current role as the Ward 6 City Councilor, I have worked in public service for almost 20 years, where I strive to make government more responsive and responsible. I focused on constituent services to help people address critical concerns in their daily lives. I have worked to pass legislation preserving open space, protecting the environment, expanding renewable energy, and creating opportunities for businesses to grow and succeed in Massachusetts. This work has taught me the value of collaboration and the importance of working together to achieve a common goal, and it serves as an example of how I will be a reliable and effective Councilor-At-Large.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

You don’t have to agree on everything to work together on anything.

Marlborough voters will head to the polls on Nov. 7 to elect city councilors, school committee members and a new mayor. Register to vote here.