Board of Selectmen Candidate Statement: Douglas Gillespie
Douglas Gillespie is running for re-election to the Weston Board of Selectmen.
Douglas P. Gillespie of Weston has announced that he will seek a sixth term as a member of the Board of Selectmen in the May town election. Gillespie was first elected in 1998, after having chaired the Department of Public Works Advisory Committee.
"I enjoy serving the citizens of Weston, and I believe that my service has contributed common sense and stability to town government," said Gillespie. "We are fortunate in town to have so many well-qualified volunteers who serve in various capacities. I have dedicated my service to increasing participation by all citizens, through an open and transparent town government.
"I am proud of the board’s stewardship of so many issues during the past term; while not everyone will agree with every action, I think the vast majority of Westonions believe that we have made wise decisions, and that we have a well-run town," Gillespie added.
He cited the Case Estates, townwide drainage improvements, the recently completed DPW facility, Regis College court case, Biogen-Idec office park, re-use plans for the Old Library and Josiah Smith Tavern, progress in housing stock diversity, and playing fields improvements as examples of town projects of importance in the past few years. Prudent town budgeting, consolidation of redundant services, establishment of reserves and refinancing of debt demonstrate that Weston is a well-run town as well.
"I am concerned that in the past two years the discourse on town issues has turned nasty and personal," says the nearly life-long Weston resident. "I know it’s a cliché, but we can disagree without being disagreeable. Lately the discussion of issues has been spiced by personal attacks and twisting of the facts. That’s not what Weston citizens deserve. I commit to honest debate, and forthrightness, without name-calling or suggestions of hidden motives."
Town Caucus, where candidates are nominated for various town elected offices, will be held March 11 at Weston Town Hall. Town Election is scheduled for May 11. Gillespie invites citizen comments at any time via email to Gillespie.d@westonmass.org.
William Crum
8:46 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
In 1960, when President Eisenhower was asked what his VP, Richard Nixon, had accomplished over the past eight years, he replied: "Give me a week and I might be able to think of something." Selectman Doug Gillespie has had 15 years and done far less.
Consider that Weston's town debt will soon exceed $92 million or $25,500 per household and average property taxes are also $17,000 per year, the highest in the state. The Old Library has been neglected for over 15 years and the JS Tavern for even longer, but Mr. Gillespie wants the taxpayers to pay over $4 million for private condos, a restaurant and b & b, with virtually no financial return. The Case Estate purphase has dragged on for over 6 years and the suit against Regis got remanded by the MA SJC, a clear defeat for the town. Minutes of the Selectmen Meeting Minutes have not been posted since 11/27/12. When he served on WTMAC with me, he only came to half the meetings and voted against almost every reform proposal. In short Gillespie hasn't done didilly!
William C. Crum