Marlborough Patch Candidate Profile: Sean Navin For City Councilor At-Large

MARLBOROUGH, MA — The municipal election is heating up in Marlborough, and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Marlborough Patch has asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will publish candidate profiles as Election Day approaches.

Sean Navin is running for a City Councilor at-large seat in Marlborough.

Age

42

Family

My wife, Jessica, and I have been married for 11 years. We live on Bolton
Street with our son, Giovanni, who just turned four.

Position sought

Councilor-At-Large

What is your party affiliation?

Democrat

Educational background

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.

Are you originally from Marlborough?

Yes - My sisters, Maura and Bridget, and I grew up here in Marlborough, raised by our parents, Joseph and Maria Navin on Sherman Street.

What is your occupation?

Director of Public Affairs at the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority

Have you previously or currently been elected to an office?

For the past six years I have had the honor of serving the residents of the City of Marlborough as a member of the City Council – first as the Ward 6 Councilor and now as Councilor-At-Large.

Why are you running for the Councilor at-large seat?

I am running for Councilor At-Large for the same reasons that I first ran for City Council six 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 our community have given me and have truly enjoyed getting to know and represent them. I look forward to continuing the work we have done together and to use the skills I have developed to serve all residents in our 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 and the impact that it has on our community’s resources. A close second is that people remain extremely concerned over how expensive everything has become, including property taxes and utility bills. These two issues are inextricably linked. Economic development is a vital part of Marlborough’s success and helps 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 must 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, public safety services, and infrastructure. If re-elected, 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 sets you apart from other candidates seeking this position?

All of 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 couple of 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.

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 City 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

How does your experience prepare you for success in this position?

Beyond my six years as a member of the City Council, I have worked in public service for 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, the importance of working together to achieve a common goal, and I believe it has made me a reliable and effective Councilor-At-Large.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself?

As I already mentioned, I love our city and I believe our best days are ahead of us. The work required to make that happen doesn’t just fall to the Mayor, the City Council, and the School Committee – It’s on all of us. So if you want to get involved, please do so! If you have any questions for me, please call me, (508) 251-9788. Finally, I humbly ask for your vote on Election Day, November 4 th .

See More Candidate Profiles:

• Marlborough Patch Candidate Profile: Mark Oram For City Councilor At-Large
  
• Marlborough Patch Candidate Profile: Richard Aldrich For Councilor At-Large
• Marlborough Patch Candidate Profile: Michael Ossing For Councilor At-Large
• Marlborough Patch Candidate Profile: Katie Robey For Councilor At-Large
• Marlborough Patch Candidate Profile: Mark Oram For City Councilor At-Large