Why Wayland Select Board's Doug Levine Is Seeking A New Term In 2024

WAYLAND, MA — There are no contested races in Wayland's 2024 town election, but voters still have an opportunity to get acquainted with the candidates who will help to run the town over the next few years.

Wayland Patch asked the two unopposed select board candidates to answer two questions to help voters get to know them better (again). Here's how incumbent Doug Levine — who previously served on the select board — answered:

Can you reintroduce yourself to voters and say why you're running for another term?

I'm excited to seek a second term on the Wayland Select Board having previously served in the role from 2017 to 2020. I've also served on a number of our Town's boards over the years, including the Economic Development Committee, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Cable Advisory Committee, and the Wastewater Management District Commission (because even sewage requires policymaking). And I'm a proud member of the Wayland Dads group.

I have three underlying reasons for seeking a seat on the Select Board again:

1. Since moving to town more than ten years ago, I have treasured the Wayland community. Getting to know so many folks by being involved in our schools and Town government continues to be its own meaningful reward;
2. Despite a slew of challenges thrown their way, especially over the last few years, our volunteers and staff who help run Wayland put the best interests of our residents front and center, and I relish the chance to work alongside them; and
3. As strange as it may be, I really do enjoy helping find solutions to solve public problems.

What do you think are some of the biggest challenges facing Wayland at the moment, and what do you want to do about them?

I know our community isn't perfect, and I share concerns about increasing property taxes, too many commercial vacancies, and tired capital assets like the Town Building, as well as several of our schools and fields. At the same time, so many of our fellow residents have proved we can come together to confront long-standing issues head on. In just the last few years, despite headwinds caused by the pandemic, our board volunteers and staff have found ways to construct critical new housing developments, new playing fields, and a soon-to-be-built community center. These folks have also worked tirelessly to resolve a complex issue to remove PFAS from our drinking water and ensure we continue to have ample conservation land.

I want to jump back into the arena because there's plenty more work to be accomplished. I hope to help create more community spaces such as a multigenerational indoor recreational facility. I also want to focus on enhancing communication from our Town so we're not overly reliant on what's become the de facto public square, the Wayland Community Forum on Facebook. And I want to continue to bring more Waylanders into the fold along the way to help move our Town forward.

RELATED: Why Wayland Select Board's Carol Martin Is Seeking A New Term In 2024