Jack Eccles Is Unique Voice In Aldermen Race: Letter

The following was submitted by Maribeth Darwin. Let your voice be heard by signing up for a free account and posting.

I am a proud supporter of Jack Eccles for Melrose City Councillor-at-Large (Alderman-at-Large) and hope you'll join me in voting for him on November 5th.

Jack is a 2015 graduate of Melrose High School and a fervent advocate for Melrose. I met him when we campaigned together to pass the Proposition 2 1/2 Override and was immediately impressed by his ability to advocate for all he believed in. Jack was integral in getting young Melrosians to vote. He was most passionate about ensuring his peers showed up on voting day. It was more important to him that they voted rather than how they voted. Jack explained the intricacies of Proposition 2 1/2, listened to concerns, answered questions, and followed up to ensure voters had what they needed. His easy-going and approachable style made it painless for first time voters to get engaged and interested in the future of our schools and our city.

Upon graduation from UMass Amherst, Jack returned to his home town, ready to make a difference in our community. When I'd run into him on the streets of Melrose, he'd tell me that although he was excited to start his career as a technology consultant, he was most interested in how he could leverage all he learned on the job to continue to positively impact Melrose. I believe he'll use his youth and recent experience to improve upon the master plan for our city and continue to push for fiscal responsibility.

Jack has a unique perspective on how to continue to move our priorities forward. I love his ideas on sustainability, reevaluating zoning ordinances and designing roads for multiple forms of transportation. In a city as small as ours, we should constantly consider how to decrease traffic and increase "people flow." Jack understands the urgency of addressing climate change and moving toward zero carbon emission. His passion is based on a future that he will help to usher in. Having grown up in a time of rapid technological growth, I believe he is uniquely qualified to look at issues with fresh eyes and offer solutions that more seasoned community members might not consider.

I strongly believe that as a recent graduate of our school system and a young and involved member of our community, Jack will be a strong addition to our city council. My husband and I, and two voting-age children, look forward to voting for Jack in November!