Published in the April 26, 2017 edition
THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN has two new members as Ed Dombroski and Mehreen Butt topped a six-way race in yesterday’s Town Election. (Mark Sardella Photo)
By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD – Change was in the air last night, especially in race for Board of Selectmen as Edward Dombroski and Mehreen Butt were elected as the top two vote-getters in a six-way race.
Dombroski, an attorney, topped the ticket in his first run at elected office.
“I’m just so incredibly humbled with this outcome,” he said last night. “I thank the voters of Wakefield and I can’t wait to get to work.”
Dombroski called the experience of campaigning “absolutely fascinating. I’ve met so many great people and I felt welcomed into so many homes. It just reaffirmed my love of this town and the people who are part of the community.”
A Chestnut Street resident, Dombroski says that his top priority as he joins the board is the downtown.
“I want to be the downtown selectman,” Dombroski said. He noted that he walks from his home to the downtown with his dog every day.
“I take stock of what it is and I often dream about what it can be,” he added. “I look around and I see opportunity there.”
Dombroski said that he also runs the Lake and sees the thousands of other people who do the same and wonders why they aren’t coming to the downtown.
“We need to give them a reason to walk down,” he said. “I want to get those wallets into our downtown. It’ so important to our economy and to help our own tax base.
A veteran of the Finance Committee, Dombroski says that he is a believer in smart fiscal policy.
“The biggest thing with fiscal policy is that it needs to be sustainable,” he said. “I want to see more thought given to the future consequences of decision-making today so that they’re sustainable into the future.”
Butt, who ran unsuccessfully in the special election for selectman last July, said at the time that she would run again this year.
“I am a believer in having more diverse voices in all forms of government, especially local government,” the Greenwood resident said, adding that she pulled papers last January and ran a four-month campaign.
“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” she said, speaking of the campaign. “It’s also the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. I have loved every minute of meeting people in Wakefield and talking to voters. I am really excited to now serve the town of Wakefield.”
Butt cited three policy areas that she would like to focus on as a member of the Board of Selectmen.
One is “continuing the quality of our schools. I know the value of our schools relates to progress in our town.”
Another priority is Lake Quannapowitt and the town’s other natural resources as well as finding ways to link people drawn to those attractions to businesses in town.
She is also interested in economic development for the whole town, “not just the downtown and Greenwood.”
She praised the work that has already been done with respect to the schools, the Lake and the local economy.
“I’m excited to add another perspective and continue the work on them,” Butt added.
The Director of Public Policy at Rosie’s Place in Boston, Butt said that she has been involved in a program called “Emerge,” which trains women to run for office. She had noted that the Board of Selectmen had five men and two women but no one of color and no one under 40.
“I ran to change that,” Butt said, “because our town doesn’t look like that.”
