DISTRICT 1
Robert L, Gilday
Age: 58
Education: Not enough, still learning
Occupation: Outside plant construction manager telecommunications/fiber optic networks
Years in Amesbury? Most of my life
Former municipal experience? Municipal councilor 2008, 2009
What is your primary reason for running? I have more work to do as a councilor to help Amesbury move forward.
What is your opinion of the town's leadership over the past two years? Very good
What can you do as a municipal councilor to bring costs/taxes more in line with other communities? Keep an eye on spending, wages and benefits. I don't like comparing communities with each other.
What other issue do you hope to address in the next two years as a muncipal councilor? Put pressure on the state and help the mayor with health insurance plan design, Quinn Bill Funding, charter school funding and any other issues that would impact Amesbury in a negative way.
DISTRICT 2
Mary A. Chatigny
Address: 164 Elm St.
Age: 54
Education: MBA with a graduate certificate in human resources management from New Hampshire College (now known as Southern New Hampshire University); bachelor's in business administration from Suffolk University
Occupation: Director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action, Northern Essex Community College
Years in Amesbury? 23 years
Former municipal experience? Completing my first term in office.
Your primary reason for running? To continue to work to create a climate of cooperation, collaboration and transparency. I firmly believe that the current council and the mayor's office, though not always in agreement, have been able to work collaboratively to move us in a positive direction.
What is your opinion of the town's leadership over the past two years?
We have had strong leadership both at the mayoral and Municipal Council levels. We have worked collaboratively to create a government that provides excellent services without breaking the bank. We have worked to create open dialogue with each other and with the citizens. We have worked to lower spending, even when the decisions have been difficult and have personally impacted city employees' incomes.
What can you do as a municipal councilor to bring costs/taxes more in line with other communities? I recognize that the tax rate is high, yet we have worked to bring down spending, and will continue to do so. Only by enlarging the commercial and industrial tax base and reducing our spending, such as through regionalization, will the residential taxpayers be able to realize a decrease in their property tax bill over time.
What other issue do you hope to address in the next two years as a municipal councilor? I am concerned with the lack of candidates for all elected positions. I hope that over the next two years we can reengage our community in our government and encourage them to serve in elected office. It is up to each one of us to take ownership of how our city operates and recognize that we are only as good as the people we elect to office.
DISTRICT 3
Stephen Dunford
Address: 27 Woodman Road
Age: 56
Education: Bachelor's degree, political science, UCLA; master's in computer science, California State University, Northridge; master's in systems engineering, Johns Hopkins University
Occupation: Engineer with the MITRE Corporation.
Years in Amesbury? 16-plus years
Municipal experience: Two years on Municipal Council, District 3; 6 years Amesbury Library Trustee
What is your primary reason for running? In the movie "It's a Wonderful Life," Jimmy Stewart had to do things to ensure that Bedford Falls would be a good place to live in. I feel that Amesbury is like Bedford Falls. Everyone needs to do their part to keep Amesbury beautiful, a good community to be in and a great place to raise children.
What is your opinion of the town's leadership over the past two years? Amesbury's leadership has made great strides in the last two years in pulling the city together. Amesbury has been making the tough decisions in a timely fashion as to provide some cushion in these days of budget uncertainty. The mayor, Municipal Council and residents have been trying to solve unprecedented financial issues.
What can you do as a municipal councilor to bring costs/taxes more in line with other communities? First, I believe Amesbury costs are in line with other communities. Amesbury has not needed to ask for an override or debt exclusion. We have addressed major issues such as rebuilding the middle and high schools, water treatment plants and the like. Regionalization will also save some costs.
What other issue do you hope to address in the next two years as a muncipal councilor? Working with the mayor and Town Hall to create a complete Master Plan addressing buildings, streets, greening and alternate energy.
DISTRICT 4
Robert W. Lavoie
Age: 55
Education: Harvard College AB cum laude; Boston University School of Law JD (high school: Cardinal Cushing Academy, West Newbury)
Occupation: Attorney
Years in Amesbury? Born in Amesbury, and have resided here the last 45 years
Former municipal experience? Currently serving second term as District 4 councilor; co-chair of Amesbury Master Plan Steering Committee; Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (chairman for last 3 years)
Primary reason for running? Originally (four years ago) to give back to my community and to bring a measure of civility and reason to Amesbury city government; presently, I am running to continue the fine work started by the present Municipal Council to move Amesbury forward by expanding the tax base in a responsible fashion and to be a leader in the efforts to regionalize services where it makes the most sense
What is your opinion of the town's leadership over the past two years? Mayor Kezer has been a very effective chief executive for our community who has acted promptly to address the fallout from shrinking state aid. The council has been a responsible partner by examining and agreeing with the merits of expanding the tax base in a responsible fashion and acting to adopt agreements to regionalize.
What can you do as a municipal councilor to bring costs/taxes more in line with other communities? Shrinking state aid makes it difficult to quickly dig ourselves out of the holes which prior governments have left us in (in fairness, those coming before us had to deal with a mind-set of deferred maintenance and perhaps well-intentioned, unthinking frugality). The real task is to find the best balance between providing excellent municipal services but doing so with less staff (ideally through attrition and re-assignment). Regionalization is a key way to accomplish this.
What other issue do you hope to address in the next two years as a municipal councilor? Having the updates to the 13-yearold charter re-filed in early 2010 so as to petition the Legislature to allow the updates on to the 2010 state ballot here in Amesbury. Also addressing the need to bring our crumbling and decrepit municipal buildings up to minimally acceptable standards, in a way that reasonably spreads these clearly capital costs over the useful life of these facilities.
DISTRICT 5
Joe McMilleon
Age: not given
Education: Bachelor's degree in government and sociology, UMass-Amherst; master's in educational counseling, Fitchburg State College; master's in human resource management, Lesley University, Cambridge
Occupation: Adjunct professor in social sciences at Northern Essex Community College and adjunct professor in graduate business management at Cambridge College; retired high school principal
Years in Amesbury? 18 years
Former municipal experience: At-Large city councilor in Leominster, 1981-1989; council president for two years; Leominster City Charter Commission, 1981; At-Large municipal councilor, Amesbury, 2001-2005; council president, Amesbury, 2004 and 2005; District 5 councilor, Amesbury, 2008-present
Your primary reason for running?
Our community, state and nation are facing serious economic difficulties over the coming years. My goal is to reduce and control spending while continuing to provide the essential and quality services to our citizens; this will require experience, creativity and hard work.
What is your opinion of the town's leadership over the past two years?
I think we are moving in the right direction. The mayor is the executive administrator for our community and the Municipal Council is the legislative branch. It is important, particularly in these difficult economic times, that we put all our resources together to make the best decisions for our community.
What can you do as a municipal councilor to bring costs/taxes more in line with other communities? Support consolidation and regionalization efforts as a way to continue to provide essential services at the lowest cost possible. Work with other communities to assure that the governor and state Legislature does not cut local aid and provides local government with the ability to lower health cost.
What other issue do you hope to address in the next two years as a municipal councilor? As the District 5 councilor I will work to clean up and implement measures to protect Lake Attitash. And as a member of the Mayor's Energy Task Force I will work to transition all our municipal buildings into more energy-efficient facilities — protecting our environment and saving taxpayers significant dollars.
DISTRICT 6
Derek Kimball
Address: 4 Moody St.
Age: 39
Education: Merrimack College ; BSBA Business Economics
Occupation: Program manager, Unitil Service Corp.
Years in Amesbury? Native
Former municipal experience? First run
What is your primary reason for running?
No. 1 is a willingness to serve. Otherwise, I understand the issues, have worked for reputable Amesbury businesses and my family has a vested interest in Amesbury's future. Now is the time to give back and build on the positive changes realized here in my lifetime.
What is your opinion of the town's leadership over the past two years?
Opinions on transparency and openness vary, but most people I have spoken to across my district share my overall view that despite the recession, the mayor and council have done a good job managing the city. I also like the proactive and forward-thinking vision within the CIP. My main job will be to listen, ask questions, make objective decisions and help the broadest of my constituents gain access to city services.
What can you do as a municipal councilor to bring costs/taxes more in line with other communities?
Cities with more diverse commercial and industrial business bases generally enjoy the lower residential tax burden that we so desire. In the short term, we should continue to consolidate, find efficiencies and cut spending where it makes sense. Long term, we need employee health care purchasing reform, more mixed use growth and a plan to assess town real estate that can lead to new investment, jobs and tax revenues.
What other issue do you hope to address in the next two years as a muncipal councilor?
Government spending is not the "silver bullet," but I would like to help build a stronger relationship with state and federal leaders so we can apply for and hopefully obtain our fair share of federal ARRA and other state funding to mitigate cuts in services. I will advocate for policies that drive investments targeted to the broadest group of residents, improve services, promote smart growth and the town as a place to live, work and do business.
COUNCILOR AT-LARGE
Anne Roulet Ferguson
Age: 53
Education: Undergraduate study in biology at Mary Washington College. Associate's degree in nursing at Mass Bay Community College
Occupation: Registered nurse at Anna Jaques Hospital since 1984 at the Birth Center
Years in Amesbury? 26 years
Former municipal experience: Precinct representative 1994-95, serving first two year term as councilor at-large, Traffic & Transportation Commission 2008-09, Amesbury High School Building Committee 2008-09, Finance Committee 2008-09
Your primary reason for running? In 2007, I ran because I was frustrated with the turbulence and uncooperativeness on the council, the split tax rate and the underride vote. This election, I am focusing on continuing the job which has been started. It is important to continue to work on maintaining efficient, effective government.
What is your opinion of the town's leadership over the past two years? The mayor has dealt with difficult issues. His tactics have improved the efficiency within departments successfully. He has pursued regionalization to save money. Daily operations have been especially difficult with the drop in revenues and the rise in expenses. Keeping the public informed of what is happening and why is very important and needs to be prioritized in this upcoming term.
What can you do as a municipal councilor to bring costs/taxes more in line with other communities? Amesbury needs to increase our industrial and commercial tax base. Constructive operation of our government is crucial in keeping costs down. We need to offer quality education to keep our students in our school system. We need to tighten our budgetary belts while maintaining our infrastructures and services. Further investigation of joining the state health insurance plan should be pursued.
What other issue do you hope to address in the next two years as a muncipal councilor? Regionalization needs to continue to be explored. The state of our roads and sidewalks needs to be addressed. The library and the elementary school need to be addressed because of major structural and overcrowding problems. We need to work to preserve our great resources.
James M. Kelcourse
Address: 14 Merrimac St.
Age: 35
Education: Massachusetts School of Law, JD, Villanova University, MBA, BS/BA; Amesbury High School
Occupation: Attorney
Years in Amesbury? My whole life.
Former municipal experience? I am currently a member of the Amesbury Planning Board. My family also owns a local business, so I have had to know and understand the issues facing Amesbury for many years.
Primary reason for running? It is a good opportunity for me to give something back to the community.
What is your opinion of the town's leadership over the past two years? I respect the town's leadership and I think they have performed well.
What can you do as a municipal councilor to bring costs/taxes more in line with other communities?
It is important that we practice good spending habits. Therefore, I think we need to constantly be asking the question: Are we approaching this in the most efficient and cost-effective manner?
What other issue do you hope to address in the next two years as a municipal councilor? Keeping the cost of living in Amesbury reasonable while meeting the demands of our community.
Allen R. Neale
Age: 58 years
Family: Married, three children, five grandchildren
Education: Bachelor's degree, mechanical engineering, Wentworth; master's Southern New Hampshire University
Occupation: Administrative assistant
Years in Amesbury? 31 years
Previous municipal experience? Woodsom Farm Committee, Finance Committee (2006-2007), councilor at-large (2008-2009), chair Finance Committee (2008-2009)
What is your primary reason for running for the Amesbury Municipal Council? One of the most important roles of a councilor is to provide the check and balance to the mayoral administration. I believe that my education and business experience is well suited to the task. I take my responsibility for, and the challenge of, the budget review process in a most professional way.
What is your opinion of the town's leadership over the last two years? The bond rating has improved which resulted in cheaper cost of capital. Tough cuts were made to personnel in order to balance a shortfall in state funds. Close working relations between Amesbury and the surrounding communities resulted in excellent trash contracts, regional health services and shared savings through joint purchases.
What can you do as a municipal councilor to bring costs/taxes more in line with other communities? My goal is to see that the services that the taxpayers require are provided in the most cost-effective and efficient manner. While it is of interest to note surrounding communities' tax rates, the services that are provided differ from those our residents enjoy.
What other issue do you hope to address in the next two years as a municipal councilor? Submit charter changes that provide the governance necessary to be consistent with our mayoral/Municipal Council form of government while maintaining the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches.
