Letter: Bouchard, Boschetto Will be 'Impact Players' on Respective Boards

Editor's Note: For a full collection of support letters for these candidates, click on their hyperlinked names at the bottom of this letter under "Related Topics."

I’m writing in support of Tony Boschetto for Selectman and Donna Bouchard for School Committee. At Thursday’s League of Women Voters Candidates’ Night, there was a stark contrast between Tony and Donna and their respective opponents. Watch it on Waycam and see for yourself.

All four candidates come with strong credentials. They all share a passion to maintain the excellence of our schools and have a genuine desire to improve town government. But there are big differences in approach, and even bigger differences in their track records.

Tony Boschetto has shown for many years his ability to challenge town officials to improve town services. That meant insisting that $4 million in surplus cash be returned to citizens at the November 2011 Special Town Meeting, over the strenuous objections of the then Board of Selectmen. That meant recommending that an Audit Committee be established here in town, which Tony has ably served on. That meant challenging town officials to rigorously review each capital item in the budget.

By contrast, Tony’s opponent seems willing to simply defer quite readily to town officials. Tony’s opponent didn’t take a position on the $4 million of surplus cash. He couldn’t -- he didn’t even come to the STM. Surely we can do better than this in a selectman. Tony’s hands-on approach of probing, questioning and challenging is needed on the Board of Selectmen. With Tony, I am confident that we’ll have a better town government.

Donna Bouchard has also demonstrated a tremendous willingness over many years to dig into the nooks and crannies of the town and school budget and operations. It was Donna alone who last year shone a spotlight on the mischief surrounding the $3 million OPEB transfer, forcing the issue so that Town Meeting will now explicitly fund OPEB trust fund contributions. It was Donna who pushed for the Operational Review Committee and Abrahams Group review of our School budgeting and expenditure processes.  It was Donna who helped find money in the FY 2012 budget to reinstate two teaching positions. Donna joined Tony in their successful petition to pry loose the $4 million of surplus cash.  Donna is an enthusiastic supporter of Dr. Paul Stein’s vision and budget for our schools this year, but she will also push for the most effective school system our money can buy.

By contrast, Donna’s opponent is less familiar currently with the details of many School Committee issues. She may get there in time, but she’s not ready yet.  Donna is ready to go now, and has to be our choice. 

Wayland needs energetic people on the Board of Selectmen and School Committee who will push for the best use of our town’s resources, to make Wayland all it can be.  These are Wayland’s two most important elected boards.  They make the biggest difference in our quality of life. Tony Boschetto and Donna Bouchard will both be impact players on them. Tony and Donna deserve our support on April 2. 

Jay Sherry
18 Pine Needle Road

Check out coverage of Wayland's 2013 Town Election, including all the Letters to the Editor, on our topic page, Wayland Town Election 2013.