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To the editor:
I’m enthusiastically voting for Erin Noonan for Select Board as she has demonstrated her commitment to Marblehead with clarity, curiosity and courage. When I have conversations with Erin, I am confident she is respectfully listening and telling me her candid views. For an example of how Erin communicates, I recommend reading the Select Board candidate profiles in the Marblehead Current. In just 16 words Erin answered the first question unequivocally (Do you support the override this June? If yes, which tier will you vote for?). She also provided valuable examples to support her position. In contrast, one of the other candidates wrote over 250 words but never answered the question. The third candidate wrote 136 words to say they are leaning between two of the three options.
This week I attended two unrelated community information sessions where I saw Erin listening attentively to the presentations and public comments. While candidate appearances blossom in election season, Erin’s town engagement is evergreen; she is in the community year-round. Erin’s interest in hearing diverse views is matched by her enthusiasm for exploring possibilities to enhance our town. The patience and persistence she brings to addressing complex challenges is an asset to the Select Board and has strengthened Marblehead. During her tenure, the Select Board created a new revenue source with the meals tax and established the Community Development and Planning Department, which has secured substantial funding and is overseeing dozens of capital improvement projects. Notably, Erin has been a driving force in stabilizing town financials, including guiding the development and discussions around the override, which we will soon vote on.
I am convinced Marblehead needs a comprehensive override to fund the many essential services that make our town the place we love, including a fully functioning library, sufficiently staffed public safety departments, strategically resourced schools and investments to maintain the many places that make Marblehead unique. The financial commitment we’ll make passing this essential override must be paired with a leader who will be a responsible financial steward. Erin Noonan is that leader, which is why she has my enthusiastic vote for Select Board.
Jeanne Lambkin
Devereux Street
