I endorsed Alexandra and raised questions about the wisdom of granting no-bid contract renewals. How dare I??!
Editor’s Note: What follows is a short (300 word) endorsement of Ms. Alexandra Ruban, a candidate for Belmont Selectwoman. It will appear in the Belmont Citizen Herald tomorrow and has already appeared over at Franklin Tucker’s Belmontonian, where it elicited a blistering and angry response from one of Mark Paolillo’s campaign chairs, Ralph Jones.
Alexandra Ruban is a mother and accomplished professional with a background in project management and corporate efficiency. I’ve gotten to know Alexandra and think she’s an amazing woman with a lot to offer Belmont. I applaud her courage in standing for elected office and am backing her enthusiastically. You can decide for yourself by visiting her web site at alexandraforbelmont.org.
Best, Paul
VOTE ALEXANDRA FOR SELECTWOMAN
I will be voting for Alexandra Ruban to be Belmont’s next selectwoman. I encourage readers to do the same.
Alexandra is an accomplished professional and the mother of two children. She has a deep and personal investment in the continued excellence of our town’s public schools. Alexandra wants to make Belmont’s government work better for residents: opening its opaque operations to the light of day and saving taxpayer money that can be invested in the services we care most about: schools, roads, and public buildings.
Vote for Alexandra Ruban for Selectwoman!
Like many of us who have thrown ourselves into town politics, Alexandra was “activated” by curiosity, a sense of civic responsibility and the sneaking suspicion that something was amiss. In her case, the issue was the town’s relationship with its curbside recycling contractor.
She began asking questions of Town Hall and discovered that, rather than negotiating changes in its recycling contract, Belmont this year simply renewed its contract with the same firm without soliciting competing bids. More outrageous: the Town has been doing so for more than a decade! Alexandra knew she could do better for the Town. A campaign was born.
Mark Paolillo is a good and gentle man from an esteemed family. I count him as a friend. But elections aren’t about demeanor or personal style. Elections are about your record in office and your job performance.
On far too many issues: from the Town Center lawn debacle to annual budget deficits that have cut deeply into school and town services, Mark has consistently sided and voted with Sami Baghdady and other staunch conservatives on the Board – to the detriment of seniors and young families.
Alexandra has the right ideas for Belmont and, most important: the courage of her convictions. I ask you to join me in voting for her in April.
Paul F. Roberts
Town Meeting Member, Precinct 8