Gozdeck: Selectmen Race About Making Sudbury Better

Thaddeus "Todj" Gozdeck moved to Sudbury about 10 years ago, believing Sudbury was the right place for him and his wife to raise their family.

Its school system was deemed strong, the neighborhoods were friendly ... it seemed like the ideal place.

But since then Gozdeck has seen things in town that he believes need fixing. He joined the Finance Committee in 2008-09, then in 2010 brought to town meeting a motion to expand the Board of Selectmen from three to five members, then hopped over to the Park and Recreation Committee and became its chairman last year.

Now Gozdeck is asking for your vote at the June 25 Special Town Election for the newly created two-year seat on the Board of Selectmen.

"It's the fact that I’m not the insider that these other guys are," he said when asked what makes him the better candidate. "I'm interested in a new perspective. Those guys have valuable accounting and finance experience, but I think my record speaks for itself. I walk the walk and talk the talk."

Gozdeck is running against Eric Poch and Chuck Woodard.

Dan DePompei and Leonard Simon are running for the available three-year seat.

According to Gozdeck, the main issue facing Sudbury today is 40B. 

Chapter 40B is a state statute, which enables local Zoning Boards of Appeals to approve affordable housing developments under flexible rules if at least 20-25 percent of the units have long-term affordability restrictions.

"I think there was a separation between me and the other candidates at the League of Women Voters candidates night," he said. "I think that the existing folks (want to) work with the developers and get things done, keep up the same old process that's been there the past 10 years. I'm interested in focusing restricting the rentals to get to the 10 percent goals to better manage this. Towns like Lincoln and Bedford and Natick and Framingham that have already made this happen and have already worked out a plan. We don't have a plan and that's one of the first things I'll do when I'm in office."

Gozdeck also thinks Sudbury would do better with a K-12 school system, similar to what Acton and Boxborough agreed upon earlier this month (A-B voted for a pre-K through 12 system).

"It certainly seems to be the trend going on," he said about regional school systems going to a K-12 system. "I thnk there are a lot of educational benefits. There are budgeting processes that are flawed in having two systems. The budget doesn’t move (from SPS to L-S) in terms of class sizes."

Gozdeck believes the high school would be better with just a principal who doesn't hold the superintendent title, as well.

"Having that separation is a good thing," he said. "Our towns have evolved since the 1960s when this was put into place. It should be further explored.

In the end, Gozdeck said he wants Sudbury to be a town where generations can put down roots for the long haul.

"This is all about my kids," he said of running for selectman. "My goal is to have my kids raise their kids in Sudbury. I want to make sure Sudbury is a great place for the next 10 years and beyond.

"I am entirely independent of the Town of Sudbury. I do not have any immediate or distant family members that are employed by the town. Nor do I or any family members have any contracts with the Town to perform services for compensation."