For transparency, my spouse is a member of the Wendell Selectboard, but the views expressed here are my own as a private citizen and voter.
I support Marina Apostol for Wendell Selectboard because of her experience, judgment, and the qualities she would bring to the board.
The demands on local government increased during the pandemic and haven’t slowed down since. Critical to effective local government are the ability to find consensus, make fact-based decisions, stay organized, and share the considerable burden of leadership among board members.
Through her work on electoral reform at a major university, Marina brings experience that translates directly to these demands. She has worked within a complex, matrixed organization; participated in a wide range of internal and external committee meetings; worked to find consensus among people with differing viewpoints; and dealt with budgets and organizational priorities. These are skills that take years to develop, and they are important to a Selectboard that needs to function effectively.
Marina is enthusiastic and energetic. I also appreciate her civic engagement, not just regularly voting in elections, but also attending town meetings and committee or board meetings, predating her decision to run and which I find important in a government leader.
For those reasons, I believe Marina would be an excellent addition to the Wendell Selectboard, and I encourage voters to support her.
Ray DiDonato
Wendell