Candidate Profile: Todd Johnson For Tewksbury Selectman

TEWKSBURY, MA — Tewksbury will have contested races for both School Committee and Board of Selectmen in the April 10 town election. Tewksbury Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles over the coming weeks.

Todd Johnson is running for the Board of Selectmen. There are four people running for two available seats. Johnson faces James F. Mackey, III, George Ferdinand and incumbent Mark Kratman.

Johnson, an attorney, is a former selectman and the current town moderator.

Are you running for office in Tewksbury? Contact Christopher Huffaker at chris.huffaker@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Tewksbury Patch.

Previously on Patch: Tewksbury Candidate Forum Planned For March 18

Todd Johnson

Age (as of Election Day)

57

Position Sought

Selectman

Family

Wife Andree who is a teacher; Married daughter Monica (30) who resides in Tewksbury; Son Adam (28)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

JD Suffolk University Law School 1992; BA Merrimack College 1987

Occupation

Attorney/Insurance Executive

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Tewksbury Selectman for 12 years; former Finance Committee chair; Current Town Moderator

Why are you seeking elective office?

Proven Professional Leadership is needed as the town faces some headwinds coming out of the Covid impact. I was in office during the Great Recession and helped guide our community to a better fiscal footing. Experience matters and I believe I offer the experience needed as we enter some challenging times.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Financial challenges resulting from the pandemic will impact our community in the next few years. Balancing the need for services and fiscal accountability in our budget is critical. We need to be keenly aware of the tax burden on residents and businesses during this recovery.I was a leader when we last faced these challenges and helped lead our town through the Great Recession in a positive financial footing.

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

Experience. I offer proven professional leadership. I've served on the Finance Committee so understand our budget. I advocated for numerous fiscal policies that now benefit our town, I will not have to learn on the job having served previously as a selectman, and I've shown my commitment to my community through elective service and as a leader of our local food pantry for many years.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

This is an open election for two seats. I am hopeful voters will weigh the skills set and experience of the candidates and give me one of their votes as best qualified to do the job on day one.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

The pandemic has been a challenge. Local leaders addressed it appropriately, but the real challenge is on the horizon because the financial impact has not yet been felt in state or local budgets. I'm running to play a role in addressing those challenges.

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

Voters previously placed their trust in me a few times. During my service, the town adopted numerous policies and new approaches that continue to frame our fiscal practices. These changes have stabilized our finances and created a foundation to weather future challenges. Leading our community during one of the worst economic periods a number of years ago and righting the ship is what I am most proud of.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Listen to others.

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

I've been honored to serve my town and to help make Tewksbury a terrific community for all of us. I have a strong desire to be a steward for others in managing our town's affairs on a daily basis. I believe experience matters.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.