Michael Strand, Bedford Town Council Candidate

Michael Strand

Age (as of Election Day)

37

Position sought (including ward or district number if applicable)

Town Council, 2-year seat

Party Affiliation

D

Family

daughter, age 8
sister, age 22
sister, age 33
brother, age 35
mother, age 62
father, age 64

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Nope

Education

B.A. English, University of Florida
M.A. English, University of North Florida

Occupation

Regional Director for Staffing Firm, >9 years
Business/RFP Writing, Drafting, & Consulting 8 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Parks & Rec. Board, Peterborough [elected]

Campaign website

strandfortowncouncil.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

We need new leadership and young people willing to step up at all
levels of government in order to protect our future.

I have always believed that the best way to get involved in your community is to jump right in and learn.

In my experience in both business and politics, new blood and new ideas are not a liability to be attacked, but can be a great asset because they are more objective and unbiased, since they do not have any old baggage, conflicts, rivalries, or pre-set agendas.

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

No one signs up or deserves to drink contaminated carcinogenic water, especially not our kids. Whether we like it or not, we will be navigating a long-term solution for PFAS in the near future, which will likely involve running city water to large areas of Bedford.

We also need to make sure we practice what we preach. There are also PFAS contamination zones in Bedford due to old landfill and fire station, including 2 residents in Bedford center who have been here 40 years and are sitting on the highest levels in town, by far. We need ensure we address this honestly and take responsiblity to address the problem for some of our longest tenured residents.

City water is a very big, expensive, and invasive project, which will require pursuing local, state, and federal partnerships, as well as collaboration with St. Gobain, to help fund the project, so that Bedford taxpayers aren't stuck with the bill.

If St. Gobain does not cooperate in good faith on the contamination areas they are responsible for causing, further legal action, including but not limited to class action, may be required.

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

Not many policy differences, probably more just differences in approach. Because I have only been a resident since August 2020, I am still learning from people who are more experienced than myself and whose opinions may be different than mine.

I don't have too many pre-set opinions, am willing to listen, and do not answer to anyone except the people of Bedford.

If there were any real policy differences, the only thing I would say that I disagree on is the suggestion that renters are a "tax burden" on the schools because anyone who as been a landlord before, myself included, knows that if you are any good at capitalism, you build the property tax into the rent to make money or cover your costs.

For apartment/condo and multi-family housing, the renters are actually paying the commercial property taxes that actually help offset and lower residential property taxes, without having any equity. That's just how capitalism/free market works, and it's a good thing for the town, as long as we develop responsibly and don't go overboard with "affordable housing."

The best way to make housing affordable is not subsidies or charging lower rents, we need to make sure we are selective about the busineses/employers we allow in town--- that their business models require skilled workers/professionals, and that they pay those employees competitively so they can afford higher rents, and over time, save so they can afford to buy their own homes.

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

Although I am not technically a challenger, my opponent has served before, and was not re-elected.

While I have heard contradictory opinions, I don't believe in repeating hearsay unless you had that direct interaction or communication with the person yourself, and I have nothing negative to say about Phil.

He has been very nice to me and seems qualified.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Equal representation for all residents, including children and seniors, retirees, business owners, and working families-- of all sizes, consituencies, longevities, and residencies.

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

Opened and managed successful staffing firm in Bedford since 2014, including contracts negotiations with companies of all sizes and industries throughout New Hampshire---large local hospitals, small family businesses, universities, etc.

We have successfully worked through the most challenging labor and inflationary period in recent US history these last 2 years. I don't back down from challenges or problems. I solve them.

Staffing will be a continued problem for at least the next 2 years, and I have extensive experience solving labor shortages, attracting and retaining the best talent for both large & small organizations, and finding creative solutions under restrictive budgetary constraints.

When I lived in Peterborough Rec. Board, we were often in difficult situations where facilities needing renovation shared between school board/town/rec that fell under our dept's advisory responsibility, but because of the weak commercial tax base in town, we had to get really creative to find cost offsets and savings to ensure taxes did not go up any more as result of our department. Many residents---myself included---were frustrated with the very high property taxes on our homes, and the environment we walked into.

We made sure in the Rec. dept. that we ran a surplus, brought revenue in for the town, and saved more than we spent to help the town mitigate budgetary challenges. We did our small part to control what we could control, and support the big picture goals.

I have always enjoyed finding common ground with diverse stakeholders to solve problems, and work well with anyone/everyone because I am able to leave my biases and ego at the door. I think that is a rare, and necessary trait for this job.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"Either you win, or you learn" --Tom Brady

"History is history. Don't look back. Keep moving forward. The present
is NOW" --Walter Kohl (my grandfather, before he passed away in 2020)

"The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple" -- Oscar Wilde

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

I have a proven trackrecord of working with diverse stakeholders with
conflicting prerogatives to reach shared goals.

I tend to be pretty open, unfiltered, and solutions-oriented. We need to be able to
put our personal opinions and emotions second to the job, if we want to accomplish anything.