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The Select Board on Wednesday voted unanimously to appoint Ramon Garcia to the Finance Committee, filling an unexpired term that runs through June 2028.
Garcia replaces Terra Samuels on the committee, according to the town’s Finance Committee roster.
The Finance Committee is a nine-member body that reviews all municipal spending requests, analyzes the town’s financial condition and makes recommendations to Town Meeting on the annual budget and other financial matters. The committee operates independently from the Select Board and serves as Town Meeting’s primary advisory body on fiscal policy.
Garcia, a member of the town’s Housing Committee, told board members he brings seven to eight years of professional accounting and financial experience across multiple industries and a long-term goal of returning his skills to public service.
“I moved to town three years ago. I’m originally from the Dominican Republic. I grew up in Lynn and went to the Lynn public schools and then went to college and graduated from Salem State with my degree,” Garcia said.
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Garcia said he earned a bachelor’s degree in business with concentrations in accounting, information management systems and business analytics, coursework he said aligns with requirements for becoming a certified public accountant. He said he is currently working toward completing the remaining credits needed to sit for the CPA exam.
His professional background includes an internship with Ernst & Young, followed by three years at CohnReznick, a Beverly-based consulting firm serving hotel ownership groups. During the pandemic, Garcia said he transitioned to a senior accountant role at Lynn Community Health Center, where he worked for more than a year.
“That kind of gave me my moral compass,” Garcia said. “I feel like having the blessing and the responsibility to have the opportunity to be part of the great equalizer of education … to actually kind of pay forward and deal with the general public.”
Garcia later joined PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he worked in the biotech sector, before moving into his current role with Catalent LLC, a pharmaceutical manufacturing company. He said the experience strengthened his financial and operational perspective while reinforcing his desire to serve in municipal government.
“I always wanted to find a way into working with the public, serving the public and doing something meaningful with the education that I received,” Garcia said. “Hence why I decided that at first I wanted to learn the ropes … and that’s why I’m actually in front of you guys today.”
Board members questioned Garcia about his familiarity with the town’s operating budget and the role of the Finance Committee, which reviews municipal finances and advises Town Meeting on spending and revenue decisions.
Garcia said he does not yet have detailed knowledge of the town’s budget but has had informal conversations with finance staff and previously interviewed for an assistant town accountant position. He said he views the appointment as an opportunity to deepen his understanding while contributing his professional skills.
“To my understanding, it’s basically reviewing the finances of the town and making decisions that align with what’s best for Marbleheaders,” Garcia said.
Select Board member Moses Grader described the Finance Committee as a “unique” body that operates independently from the Select Board and represents Town Meeting in budget oversight.
“It’s a very special group,” Grader said.
Chair Dan Fox asked Garcia how he would approach difficult or unpopular financial decisions, noting that the town faces growing fiscal pressures.
“The key to having difficult conversations is understanding the why,” Garcia said. “Separating feelings and sticking to the facts and remaining polite … in the end, everybody’s trying to find what’s best for the town.”
Following the interview, the board voted unanimously to appoint Garcia to the committee.
The board also voted Wednesday to appoint Susan Wood to the Cultural Council for a term expiring in June 2028. Wood told the board she is an artist and longtime volunteer with the Marblehead Arts Association and has participated in the Festival of Arts for more than 25 years.
