Waltham Ward 2 City Councilor Candidate Profile: Heather May

WALTHAM, MA — Waltham will have several contested races in this fall's election, including one that will thin the field of Ward 2 candidates from three to two, in place of Councilor Bill Fowler. Waltham Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Heather May, 46, was one of three candidates running for Ward 2 City Council, where Carren Dunn and Bill Hanley are also running. The top vote-getter in the preliminary election on Sept. 17 will move on to compete in the general election on Nov. 5.

May and her husband have lived in Waltham for the past six years with their son Jake, who is in the first grade at MacArthur. They also have an 18-year-old daughter.

May got her BA in English and Speech Communication 1997 University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a Masters in Organizational Communication 2001 Suffolk University, She has her MEd in Counseling Psychology from Cambridge College. She's been a communication studies Lecturer at Emerson College since 2001.

Also read: Waltham Elections 2019: Here's Who Is Running

Are you running for office in Waltham? Contact Jenna Fisher at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Waltham Patch.

The single most pressing issue facing our city is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

We don't have a single most pressing issue in Ward 2, we have several. But there are two main issues I hear from Ward 2 residents when I'm knocking on doors. First of all, making sure that there is an open line of communication that flows between the Mayor’s office and the Construction company of the New High School, and the abutters and surrounding neighbors of 554 Lexington St. The Construction company must appoint a community liaison to work with both the Ward 2 councilor and the abutters to immediately address any issue that may arise. I would meet with the community liaison at least twice a month, more if needed, to make sure that communication is always flowing.

The second issue which effects more of the Ward and has an impact on daily life is the unsafe traffic on Lake and Lincoln streets as well as the various residential side streets that have been serving as cut throughs for commuters. We need raised crosswalks at the MacArthur School, as well as the Lazazzero Park. This needs to happen now, so we can be proactive instead of waiting for a child to be hurt, or worse, and then be reactive. Working with the Traffic department, the Waltham Police Department and the Waltham Fire Department, I would advocate for the implementation of safety measures to reduce speeding immediately.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates for mayor?

There are 2 significant difference between myself and the other two candidates for Ward 2. First of all, I 100% support the building of the New High School at 554 Lexington St. I am confident that it is the best site on which to build the new school. I have been a teacher for over 20 years and Education is of the highest value to me.

The new High School building will provide us with the resources to bring high caliber education to generations of students. One of my opponents does not agree with this, and has made statements that they would attempt to block and/or significantly slow the building of the New High School. The schematic design of the school as planned right now gives me confidence that the buffer zones planned between the school and abutters are adequate and will provide a consistent quality of life for all neighbors.

However, one of my opponents supports the building of an athletic campus at the new High School. They have made public statements to this effect, and has advocate for building an athletic campus at a "later date". I do not support this because I do not think that this is necessary in order to provide the full implementation of the Educational Plan nor is it in any way fair to the abutters of the new High School property. It would turn the High School site into a 7 day a week, evening and weekends destination, which I do not believe would be in the best interest of Ward 2. We can renovate the current fields with a new home and away locker room, and expand the use of Leary field so that all can benefit from it, while maintaining the green space and conservations lands surrounding the new High School.

Secondly, and perhaps some may find this counterintuitive, I am not from Waltham, and I believe the fact that my husband and I chose Waltham as the city we wanted to raise our family in and make a home means that I am dedicated to Waltham now, and to the Waltham of the future. I don't have the baggage that can come with, "well, we've always done it this way."

While some may see this as a challenge to being a city councilor, I disagree, and in fact I see several ways in which it is an advantage. In my eyes everyone living in Ward 2 deserves to have their needs heard. Everyone should have the same advocacy from their councilor as anyone else. I do not have some of the relational entanglements that we have watched other councilors over the years attempt to manage. I do not have any pre-existing relationships with developers, or businesses that may color a councilors ability to advocate fairly for the best interest of the Ward and for Waltham as a whole. My entire career I have dedicated myself to being an evidence based, well reasoned and fair decision maker, and I intend to bring that to my work as a councilor.

In what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

"N/A"

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

Transparency only happens when you have individuals with integrity working for the best interests of those they represent. Without those two things, true transparency is hard to achieve. However, we can do some very specific things to increase the transparency of our city government.

First of all, the voters of Waltham must demand integrity in those that they choose to elect. Candidates such as myself who have made integrity and transparency a part of their platform should be elected to the council and then held accountable. As a councilor I would push for three things:

1) All committee meetings, and meetings of the whole should be videotaped and put up online – and if we need to increase resources to do so – we must do so.

2) Any executive session minutes should be made public either 30 days after said session, or 48 hours after the conclusion of any open legal actions that are directly related to said session. City Councilors and Chief Executives should not be allowed to hide behind the veil of “executive session” secrecy for an indefinite period of time.

And finally, I would hold quarterly town halls in Ward 2 to bring us together as a community, and to share with my constituents what current information they need to stay abreast of what is happening in their communities and the wider whole of Waltham

The best single piece of advice anyone ever gave me was...

"At the end of the day, when you know you've done your best - await the results in peace" - My dad, Ed Erickson

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

I have held several positions in my work at Emerson College that have required me to be able to advocate for those who are disempowered and to speak truth to power. I was one of the founding organizers of the current configuration of the faculty union at Emerson college. I spent almost 2 years working to make unionization happen. This meant being able to build relationships, even when the topics of discussion were contentious, and being able to communicate clearly both the needs of my constituency as well as providing actionable, workable solutions to problems. I have been the grievance officer for the ECCAAUP union for the past year and 1/2 and I have had both the privilege and the challenge of sitting in rooms with faculty across the table from the number one union busting law firm in the country. I know how to be a voice of reason, courage and truth in those situations, and I plan to do the same on the floor of the city council chambers.

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

I am running because I feel the people of Ward 2 need and deserve a strong councilor who can continue to amplify the voice of Ward 2’s residents in the City Council Chamber. It is no stretch to say that there are many in Ward 2 who feel ignored by the City Council.

I have worked my entire adult life to ensure that people’s voices are heard by those in power. In my teaching of public speaking and debate, I’ve endeavored to empower others to use their voices and to make themselves heard as advocates. In my role as the Grievance officer for my faculty union I’ve had the opportunity to speak for others when they could not, and to speak truth to power when it needs to be done. I am exceedingly good at both of these types of empowerment, while also being personable, friendly and caring; and I promise the people of Ward 2 that I would be a strong, balanced, compassionate voice for them at City Hall

What's your favorite aspect of Waltham?

The people! They are smart, creative, diverse, hilarious, talented!!! The list goes on! I love it here because every day I run into someone who makes me smile, genuinely and authentically smile. That is unique and wonderful.

Previous profiles:

• Melissa Downes - Mayor
• Robert Logan - Ward 9 Councilor
• Heather May - Ward 2 Councilor
• Jeannette McCarthy - Mayor
  

More on Waltham Elections:

• Waltham Mayor Jeannette McCarthy Announces She Will Run
• Possible Challenge To McCarthy's Run For Waltham Mayor
• Councilor Diane LeBlanc Hints At Run For Mayor
• Waltham Councilor Diane LeBlanc Announces She Will Run
• Waltham Election Calendar: What To Know About Election Season
• Column: Why I'm Running For City Waltham City Councilor At Large
• Don Desrochers Announces Campaign for City Council Seat

Are you running for office in Waltham? Contact Jenna Fisher at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Waltham Patch.