Candidates for town office answered questions from constituents at a forum Wednesday night.
Candidates on the March 28 ballot for School Committee, Select Board and Board of Assessors spoke at Arlington Town Hall at the forum, which was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Arlington, a nonpartisan grassroots organization, and Envision Arlington, which engages with the Arlington volunteer community. The candidates for the Arlington Housing Authority did not speak at the forum since one of them was not present.
“I think it is important that they be seen and that they be heard,” Carolyn Parsons, the League of Women Voters co-president, said about the candidates, “and that they can talk a little bit about themselves to introduce themselves but also to answer questions that are of public concern.”
School Committee
There are three seats open for three-year terms and one seat open for a one-year term.
Paul Schlichtman, Laura B. Gitelson and Elizabeth R. Exton are all running for re-election to three-year terms.
Shaun D. Berry, Crystal S. Haynes Copithorne and Dimitry Missiuro Vasilyev are running for the one-year term.
The candidates spoke about the tax override, which will be on the ballot, and how it will affect Arlington Public Schools. The override would increase property taxes by $14.8 million to help fund the town and school budgets.
Schlichtman said that even if the override is successful, the committee will have to make cuts.
“This is a partnership,” Schlichtman said, “and we listen to the principals, the parents, the teachers, the school community before we make any kind of cuts.”
Berry said that she is in support of the tax override.
“I have been out there canvassing, talking with constituents, and encouraging everyone to vote yes, so we don’t have to make any more of those cuts,” Berry said.
Candidates were also asked if the committee should develop policy about artificial intelligence in schools.
“I think we need to have a robust policy around AI,” Copithorne said, “and also teach students as part of a media literacy campaign program curriculum to make sure that they understand the dangers of AI because this will be part of their world.”
Exton said that the committee needs to ask when AI should be used and when it shouldn’t.
“There needs to be trust for teachers to make choices,” Exton said. “There are some very effective ways teachers can use AI to differentiate instruction and modify lessons to appeal to students’ interests.”
Select Board
Two candidates are running for two open three-year terms on the Select Board, whose responsibilities include adopting town policies, reviewing the annual budget and overseeing traffic issues.
Joseph A. Solomon, a first-time candidate, served two years as president of the Dallin Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization, is a Town Meeting member from Precinct 16 and is vice chair for the Capital Planning Committee.
Diane M. Mahon is running for re-election. Mahon serves as chair of the Select Board and is a Town Meeting member for Precinct 14.
The candidates were asked what actions they would take to reduce or eliminate the budget deficit, so that another override is not needed in three years.
“I think looking at budget problems as only cuts is not necessarily the right framing,” Solomon said. “ I would look for more increased revenue sources.”
Mahon said she would advocate for continuing the hiring freeze the town manager and superintendent implemented in November.
Mahon also said she would push for regionalization on equipment purchases, maintenance, public safety and other issues, as well as state aid.
“I don’t want to look for any solution that carries onto the back of our town employees,” Mahon said.
Board of Assessors
Mary Winstanley O’Connor is the only candidate for the three-year seat on the Board of Assessors, which assesses all property in town.
O’Connor, who chairs the board, is seeking re-election to her seat, which she has held for almost 25 years.
O’Connor cited the importance of Arlington’s senior tax deferral given the override vote. The tax deferral allows residents 65 or older to postpone the payment of any or all of their property tax.
“Many of my parents’ generation worked hard so that they could pass down to their children something to inherit,” O’Connor said. “But for seniors who are struggling, this is a perfect way of easing up some of their cash burden.”
After the forum
After the event, YourArlington asked two candidates for their thoughts on how the event went.
Copithorne said that she is excited for the future. If elected, she will be the first person of color to serve on Arlington’s School Committee.
“I thought it was an extraordinary opportunity to hear about the breadth in all of the experiences we’ve had on the board and for the public to learn a little bit about how the School Committee has made their decisions thus far,” Copithorne said.
Solomon said he appreciated the way that the event was formatted.
“I think it’s great that it gives people an opportunity to ask interesting and unique questions about what our leaders are going to do in town and get real, in the moment answers,” he said.