I am deeply concerned with the current situation and lack of leadership at Town Hall, which has driven me to get involved and run for Selectboard.  Over the last few years, the number of town employees we have lost to other outside employment, highlighted by multiple departures from the Town Hall has been alarming.  

The next few years are extremely important.  We will have a new Town Administrator, need to maintain our buildings and infrastructure, and resolve lingering inefficiencies and deficiencies in our town management.  These should include focusing on financial responsibility, limiting wasteful spending, and promoting transparency as we approach an increasing tax crisis.  In addition, it is imperative that the town does not lose track of finding ways to drive economic development, protecting our precious natural resources, and support businesses, both big and small.

As a Newbury resident, my candidacy is not about stopping the town from changing or slowing it down.  It's about providing the town with the appropriate guidance to make the best decisions for today and our future while keeping the small-town feel and spirit it's had in the past.

I grew up in a military Air Force family, and when my father retired, we settled in Yelm, WA.  Yelm is a small city in Thurston County, Washington, with views of Mount Rainier. The city is close to Puget Sound and is a gateway to Washington's mountains.  Yelm is an unusual name for a town, born in the shadow of Mount Rainier, with a rich and unusual story. The Yelm Prairie was originally inhabited by members of the Nisqually Indian Tribe, who lived in the South Puget Sound watershed long before 1833 when Fort Nisqually was established as the first white settlement on Puget Sound.

Today, the world of the original Indian settlers has merged with the first American settlers of the West, and they strive to work in harmony, never losing sight of the ultimate respect for the environment and creating a sustainable life for people who make their homes there.  Going to school with both American and Native Americans from the Nisqually Indian Tribe, I gained an incredible insight into many aspects of the growth of a community and caring for natural resources.  

This is also true in Newbury. We all live here because we love the mountains, lakes, ponds, streams, and all the areas around Newbury. We need to preserve our precious natural resources while also managing change. Change is inevitable, but if we manage it smartly, we can control it and all benefit from it.

Our most significant resource by any means is our people.  Like most communities in New Hampshire, Newbury has been experiencing a steady increase in population that stretches back some forty years. Newbury’s rate of increase, however, has been faster than that of both the state as a whole and many of the communities neighboring Newbury.  An increased population also comes with economic issues such as real estate taxes, issues about workforce housing, and being able to afford housing, energy, and education.  Change needs to be tackled a bit at a time without wholesale changes that could jeopardize our educational system.  The quality of education is essential, and we must ensure that the kids can have the best education at a reasonable cost.

Budgets are the policy documents that reflect a community's priorities.  The Newbury Selectboard should be the watchdog of our community to ensure that we get the services that are required but also temper that with an eye on fiscal responsibility.

One of the environmental threats facing our community is protecting the Lake Sunapee watershed. What are some of the things we can do to manage this change? We need to look at how we can preserve the Lake Sunapee watershed through education, regulation, and enforcement focused on protecting the future of our precious resources, which are a significant economic contributor to our community.

Mount Sunapee ski resort is located within the town of Newbury, meaning the town directly benefits from the economic activity generated by the ski resort, while also having a role in managing the environmental impact of the resort operations on the surrounding area, particularly Lake Sunapee.  As the land where Mount Sunapee is located belongs to the state of New Hampshire, Newbury may have a role in reviewing and approving specific development plans by the resort.  We need to embrace all the impacts the mountain has on our resources, but the town also needs to protect our working relationship with the many activities the mountain offers. The resort brings significant tourism revenue to Newbury, supporting local businesses and jobs.

According to our Newbury Master Plan 2017, we will have many local and regional challenges over the next ten years.  Newbury and the surrounding region will face a series of challenges that need to be addressed within the Master Plan.

Some of the key themes facing Newbury over the next ten years include:

• Preserving the Region’s Landscape and Natural Resources in conjunction with other communities using regulations and conservation strategies

• Serving an Aging Population

• Delivering quality Telecommunications and Transportation services

• Encouraging Affordable and Accessible Housing

• Building upon the Region’s Economic Strengths

• Managing Waste Disposal Systems

• Adapting the Built Environment for Severe Storm Events while caring for the natural environment and citizens

We need a Selectboard that embraces the Masterplan and looks to the future.  Long-term and strategic planning is needed, which seems to be missing from the current Selectboard.