Norwood 2022 Candidate Profile: Allan Howard: Board Of Selectmen

NORWOOD, MA - Norwood voters have a big choice to make as they vote to fill two seats on the Board of Selectmen on Monday, April 4.

There are three candidates vying for those slots, including incumbent Allan Howard. Amanda Grow ran against Howard in the special election in January and is vice president of the Norwood League of Women Voters. Bob Donnelly, a long-time Town Meeting member and member of the Finance Commission, also is seeking a seat.

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

Age as of Election Day: 77

Position sought: Selectman - 3 year term

Party Affiliation: Independent

Family: Irene Howard, Allan Howard Jr., Scott Howard, Stephen Howard

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? no one

Education: Norwood High School, Burdett College of Accounting

Occupation: The Hartford Insurance Group - Workers Compensation Specialty

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

Norwood Selectman 9.5 years, Norwood Finance Commission 12 years

Campaign website: www.ElectAllanHoward.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

To use my experience to make Norwood even better than it is. I enjoy helping residents and interacting with the other Selectmen.

What is the single most pressing issue facing the Board of Selectmen, and what do you intend to do about it?

Children are our future. The Middle School project will give our 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades a quality building to learn in. Repairs would be almost as expensive as a new school. The plan to move the 5th grade up to the new Middle School will give us capacity in our Elementary Schools and relieve overcrowding in those schools. A win win project. I am and will be using my position on our BOS to convince our residents to support a new Middle School.

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

The other two candidates have no experience on the Board of Selectmen. When I won the election for the three-month term, I pledged to show the voters that I deserve one of their votes for a three-year term April 4th. I have been part of settling our two years late Firefighter's contract and breaking the impasse to get more Paramedic coverage on our ambulance runs. I also have been working on getting us a dog park which I will complete if reelected now that we are down to one location.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I am currently on the Council of Aging Board at our Senior Center and regularly interact with many of our Seniors. I was in the Army Reserve for 6 years. This experience helps me interact with our Veterans and I have brought several items to our BOS and Town Meeting to expand low-income Senior and Veteran's benefits that are available to these people from our Town. I make myself available to residents 7 days a week.

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

I was one of two Selectmen who met with Moderna and convinced them to come to Norwood. I was also one of two Selectmen who met with the Boston Skating Club and convinced them to come to Norwood and build three rinks for over 100 million dollars and bring world class skaters to Norwood. I was on the negotiating team that completed a contract for trash removal for the five years, that is near complete saved us hundreds of thousands. My experience in business as a manager supervising a staff of 20 for a major Insurance company taught me how to manage, interact and negotiate to perform as a Norwood Selectman.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

While on our Finance Commission for 12 years I interacted with people at all levels of Norwood's Town Government. People both on the payroll and elected and appointed. These interactions taught me a great deal about our Town. This is what I have utilized since I have been on this Board.

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

I love our Town of Norwood. While I have been on the Board of Selectmen, I have served on numerous sub committees. It has been interesting, and a lot of work. But it can also be rewarding when a project comes to completion like a new High School for only 28 million dollars of Norwood money, a new Electric Light Building, a new public works building and now to sell a new Middle School. I ask you to give me one of your two votes so I can hurry up and get started. Thank you for this venue.