Sudbury 2023 Candidate Profile: Radha Gargeya, Select Board

SUDBURY, MA — Sudbury's spring town election will happen Monday, and Sudbury Patch has reached out to candidates running in contested races to answer questions about why they're running.

This year, the races for select board, planning board and Goodnow Library board are the only contested races — although there are plenty of other candidates on the ballot running in uncontested races.

Here's what select board challenger Radha Gargeya said about why he's running this year.

Radha Gargeya, 66, software engineer

Relevant experience

As a member of Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee for 12 years (seven as chair or vice chair) on the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee (LSSC) from 2007 to 2019, I led or was part of the following initiatives:

Leadership and service: Worked with three L-S superintendents and was part of hiring two superintendents. LSSC also hired directors of finance. Helped the transition process for superintendents and directors of finance.

I was a founding member of G4, a working group of four school committee chairs and superintendents — Sudbury Public Schools, Lincoln Public Schools, Wayland Public Schools and Lincoln-Sudbury High School. We collaborated across school districts. I represented L-S School Committee. Susan Iuliano (later Sudbury Select Board chair) represented Sudbury School Committee. Jennifer Glass (current Lincoln Select Board Chair) represented Lincoln Public School Committee.

Capital upgrades: I spearheaded the technology and networking infrastructure upgrade and secured the funding so that students’ learning is enhanced. L-S girls softball field was an equity issue: A new field was constructed and delivered despite obstacles.

Renewable energy and sustainability: I worked very hard to get the L-S solar canopy installed that continues to save significant amount of money that is used for town services.

Finances: I presented a deeply researched report on regional school finances and governance. It was attended by Sudbury and Lincoln select boards, Sudbury and Lincoln finance committees, and L-S School Committee. I was part of several contract negotiations with teachers’ association. Wrote fiscal policies for the school district. Advocated and supported annual funding for OPEB (Other Post Employment Benefit) Trust that ensures the school district has resources to support retirees.

Student learning and development: Supported the administration and staff as they maintained focus on the intellectual, social, emotional growth and well-being of each student.

Collaboration: I collaborated with SPS and LPS and initiated a tradition, now completing a decade, of tri-district school committee meetings (Sudbury School Committee, Lincoln School Committee, Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee). Issues common to all the schools are discussed at this annual meeting. The later high school start time was the first topic discussed. It is now a reality providing the necessary and vital sleep time for our teenagers.

Associate Member, Sudbury Housing Committee, 2006. Understood the need for diverse housing in Sudbury.

Sudbury Walkway Committee 1999-2000. Produced a town-wide walkway report that delivered an ordered list of sidewalks. The report offered a prioritized sequence for the entire town starting with areas near schools, places of worship, town offices, police and fire stations, recreational spaces, and proposed sidewalks that cover most of the town.

Read more about my experience on my website

If elected, what's one item you'd like to see pass the select board in 2023?

We need to be moving on all fronts — schools, public safety, inclusion, enhanced quality of life for all residents, town planning, and economic growth and development. With so much important work to do, I’m grateful that we have a five-member Select Board that can collaborate to meet the demands of all residents.

I would like to see the speedy completion of the Open Space and Recreation plan. Our residents deeply value our open spaces and recreational assets. We must continue to invest to enhance these resources and make them accessible to all residents.

This plan will be a blueprint for delivering on the will of the community. Steady progress and methodical execution become the imperatives after we have the plan. You can hear more of my thoughts on open spaces by visiting my website and my remarks about Broadacres on my Facebook page.

I would like to see the Select Board pass items related to transportation — improving traffic and pedestrian safety across town and at intersections that need urgent attention, and finding ways to expand the Go Sudbury program in a sustainable fashion. In this regard, my service on the Sudbury Walkway Committee will be useful.

There are also several major articles that need to pass at Town Meeting, and I think it’s incredibly important to take this opportunity to encourage our community to attend Town Meeting in May. We need your votes to pass the SPS override, the fire engine, and several articles that will advance equity and inclusion throughout the town’s recreational resources.

I put in hundreds of hours of work to bring to successful completion LS Solar Canopy (sustainability and renewable energy), Technology Upgrades (student learning), and LS Girls Softball field (equity) despite obstacles and uncertainty– to name just three projects while I was on the Lincoln Sudbury School Committee for 12 years.

I will bring the same work ethic for our common good as a Select Board member.

What's one thing Sudbury is lacking right now, and what would you do about it?

We need the Climate Action Plan. I am happy to report that Sudbury has hired a Sustainability Coordinator, so we are making progress here. Our town staff in multiple departments have tremendous expertise on this topic as well, so I would like to accelerate that progress. We now have the resources to do it.

This year, we’re embarking on some solar projects that are very exciting and could have a large impact on not only our carbon footprint, but our town finances. I would like to see those projects put into the context of a broader, multi-faceted, long-term plan. In addition to doing our part to protect the one planet we have, the money we will save with execution of a comprehensive sustainability action plan can underwrite our financial future.

I led the Lincoln-Sudbury Solar Canopy project. The canopy has saved the school district and our town hundreds of thousands of dollars, which are being used for all town services.

Likewise, such projects across the town can save significant amounts of money and reduce the upward pressure on our taxes.

What does Route 20 look like 10 years in the future and what role does the select board play in shaping it?

I see Route 20 as an exciting opportunity for Sudbury. We have many empty storefronts in Sudbury, which could be filled with vibrant small and local businesses that provide diverse services and amenities to the town. The opportunity here is driven by the construction of two rail trails, the Bruce Freeman and the Mass Central, which will intersect near our commercial corridor on Route 20.

I see economic development in three phases — short-term, medium-term, and long-term with each phase overlapping with another and continuing. Developing strong relationships and building communication with our business owners and the Sudbury Chamber of Commerce is important.

In the short-term, Sudbury can take steps today to fill the empty storefronts with dining, entertainment, or shopping options for our Sudbury residents right here.

We should make a one-stop ‘window’ or page at our town website that provides, in one place, for a particular type of business all the necessary information that they need — which boards they need approval from, what agencies to contact, and what permits they need, and offer an easily understood timeline. They can receive timely approval decisions. A staff member whose remit is economic development strategy would help.

In the mid-term, we will have a great unique opportunity with two rail trails meeting at the diamond just a few steps from Route 20. That will add environmental, community building, and economic opportunities. People on the two trails can support our town’s diverse businesses.

In the mid-to-long term, the CWMP (Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan) is necessary for environmental reasons, for preserving and protecting our water sources, for economic growth and revitalization because of public sewers. Infrastructure is essential for economic development.

The role of the Select Board is to advocate for and implement the necessary policies and planning efforts to enable this time of smart growth on Route 20. Steady progress on this matter will create a Route 20 business corridor that is economically vibrant, environmentally sustainable, and easy to move through for motorists, cyclists, and walkers alike.

Sudbury is asking voters to approve two Prop 2-1/2 items this year. What does this signify about the town's overall financial position?

The town’s financial position is strong, as evidenced by our AAA bond rating. The override for the Sudbury Public Schools signifies the growing and well-established needs of our students due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have a great tradition of one generation taking care of another and lending a helping hand in times of need.

The capital exclusion for the fire engine signifies the forward-looking leadership of our fire chief, who identified an opportunity to get ahead of cost escalation and supply chain delays. This is again a lifesaving need. The current Engine is 17 years old and will be 20 when the new Engine is constructed and delivered. It has been very well-used, and we need a replacement for fire suppression and emergency medical services. As our community continues to grow, maintaining and enhancing our public safety services is essential.

I support both the SPS override and the capital exclusion for the fire engine. Education and public safety are always top priorities for Sudbury residents. The need for both has been well-established and the financials have been carefully considered and shared with residents.

With that being said, we also need to monitor and develop our town's long-term capital plan to keep our town's valuable infrastructure in good repair and methodically update and renovate our assets with predictable and appropriate financial resources. This will save Sudbury money in the long run and further strengthen our financial position. Strong long-term planning gives a municipality the ability to navigate whatever may come our way in the future, and it helps us meet the needs of our residents along the way.

Previous Sudbury 2023 candidate profiles:

• Sudbury 2023 Candidate Profile: Charlie Russo, Select Board
• Sudbury 2023 Candidate Profile: Timothy Anderson, Goodnow Board
• Sudbury 2023 Candidate Profile: Ingrid Mayyasi For Goodnow Board
• Sudbury 2023 Candidate Profile: Elizabeth Iwasaki, Goodnow Board