Saturday, May 22, 2021
Polls Open 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
at Hopkinton Middle School
Candidate Statement
I hope you will again support my candidacy for School Committee. My family and I have lived in Hopkinton for sixteen years and my son is now a sixth grader at the Middle School. As many of you already know, I have been teaching in the college classroom and worrying over equity, inclusion, effective curricula and student success for more than twenty-five years. I think it benefits the School Committee to have an experienced educator and researcher in its ranks. Not only do we craft and revise educational policy, we must also remain fiscally responsible – all in the service of providing adequate resources so the students can flourish.
What drives me to run again is a deep concern, foremost, for the education and well-being of each individual student. The public school system should rise to meet each child’s needs and can do so through a holistic approach, recognizing that what works for some might not work for others. Equal access to educational opportunities is only one part of the equation. We have to ensure our excellent teachers and administrators feel supported as well. As you can imagine, there is a complex orchestration going on behind scenes. This last year presented us with a number of challenges, some of which we, as a committee, met decently, others which we are still in the process of addressing. SC is a team effort, as they say. In this time of upheaval, consistency has substantive value. We have a good and hard-working team in place and I’d like to see our collective efforts bear fruit.
Current/past volunteer work in town:
- School Committee member since 2018 (including the ReOpening Planning Committee)
- Lake Maspenock Preservation Association Board
- SEPAC Board and Friends of SEPAC Board
- Hopkinton Cultural Council Committee member
Candidate Statement
My name is Irfan Nasrullah, and I am proud to announce my candidacy for re-election to the Hopkinton Select Board.
Some might say I’m an old timer here in Hopkinton; my family first moved here in 1981. There was a lot then for a high school freshman to find attractive about Hopkinton, a small centrally located town with wonderful natural beauty, trails, and plenty of space to explore.
I’ve always known that Hopkinton was the town where I wanted to raise my own family. When I purchased the family homestead in 2013, I came to know that while I had loved Hopkinton as a child, I appreciated it even more as a father. Both the school system and the sense of community are second to none.
I have found my experience on both the Planning Board and the Select Board to be incredibly humbling and rewarding at the same time. I’ve come to know more people and understand we all share common values and a vision for our town. I’ve also come to understand the dedication and effort those before me have put in.
My skill set and experience have served me well in helping the town continue to grow in a manner that expands on the community character and builds on its values. My qualifications as an environmental attorney who also practices in real estate positions me as someone whom I believe can bring valuable insight to the Select Board.
I believe my professional and municipal experience, combined with a dedication to the town and its people, make me an ideal candidate for the Select Board. I respectfully ask for your vote on May 17.
Candidate Statement
My name is Muriel Kramer, and I serve on the Planning Board. I have long been interested in planning for Hopkinton that truly contemplates and balances the priorities of the voters, the rights of property developers, and the concerns of neighbors affected by any development. A process that engages all stakeholders respectfully and considers thoughtfully the many and often competing priorities is necessary to both plan for and support growth that is revenue enhancingand in keeping with the small town charm of Hopkinton, the reason so many of us first moved here.
I am ready to re-engage more actively in town government. I have served on the Board of Appeals (2002-’04), chaired the Master Plan Committee (2004-’06), and served as a selectwoman including two years as chair (2005-’08). I have also served as the Deputy Town Moderator (2009-2017) and as a Commissioner of Trust Funds (2014 – 2017).
No results.
No results.
Candidate Statement
Hello Hopkinton Neighbors,
My name is Lesley Ficarri, and I am running for re-election to the Board of Assessors for a 3-year term.
The Board of Assessors’ key responsibilities are to support the Assessing Department in valuing real estate and personal property, considering tax abatements and exemptions, and providing data and analysis needed to set the annual tax rate in accordance with applicable Massachusetts laws.
Being on this Board has been a great opportunity to serve our community. When I first joined the Board I integrated quickly and learned about how revenue is generated for the Town of Hopkinton through our taxes. I leveraged my background and skills as a human resources executive to make decisions considering legal frameworks and data along with the impact on our residents and businesses. Sound judgement, high ethics and the ability to maintain confidentiality guided us during each meeting.
My husband, Pete, and I grew up near Pittsburgh, PA. We moved to Massachusetts in 1998 and to Hopkinton in 2001 when we built our house. We previously volunteered for the town. I served on the Personnel Committee, and Pete was on the Zoning Board of Appeals and Zoning Advisory Committee. We have made great friends here and very much enjoy living in Hopkinton.
Please join me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LesleyforHopkinton/.
I hope to continue serving you on the Board of Assessors, and I respectfully ask for your vote on Monday, May 20th.
Candidate Statement
It has been my privilege to have served on the Library Board of Trustees, first as a member appointed by the Select Board on the first public board and several times as an elected official. During those terms I advocated for the library and worked with other board members and directors to establish library policies and assure that the library remains a bastion of free speech and is a welcoming place for all citizens of our community.
For the last several years I have been active in the Friends of the Library, helping to raise funds to cover items and programs that the town does not budget for. I look forward to serving the community as a Trustee once again and ask for your support on election day.
No results.
Candidate Statement
My name is Kyla McSweeney and I am running for a seat on the Select Board.
My husband James and I moved to Hopkinton in 2007 and are raising our children here. Quinn is 14 and in the 8th grade at Hopkinton Middle School, and Sierra is 11 and in the 5th grade at Hopkins.
I am a Director in the State Department of Early Education and Care, where I manage contracts and large grant programs requiring close attention to fiscal and regulatory matters. Formerly I was Director of the Children’s Corner at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. I also have a law degree from Suffolk University and have worked as a public interest attorney.
I have been involved in the town in various capacities in the 16 years I have lived here. I began my service on the Center School Council and then served on the Marathon School Council. I served on the committees in order to support the building of Marathon School and more recently the new Elmwood School. In 2021, I was elected to the Hopkinton Cemetery Commission and served as Secretary, which has familiarized me with the workings of town government. I have also been a Girl Scout leader in town for the past 6 years.
I believe that my fiscal and budgetary experience will be helpful in town budget matters. We have embarked on several ambitious projects in the past years such as the Downtown Corridor Project, a water remediation project, the new Marathon School and now additions to Hopkins and a new Elmwood School. These have tapped our resources, and many residents feel stretched by increasing tax rates. I believe we need to consider our planning with this in mind and think innovatively about how we can increase our revenues outside of raising residential tax rates.
My experience in law and policy has provided me with the ability to listen to different viewpoints and bring people together. Recent events and matters in town have resulted in a division of perspectives. I hope to be able to listen to diverse opinions of Hopkinton citizens and be respectful of the range of perspectives that residents have.
Having served in the role of Director many times and under different circumstances, I have experience attracting and retaining committed and professional employees, and I appreciate the need to do so. I believe we need to continue to seek strategies to attract high caliber candidates, support our town employees, and retain exceptional talent in all areas including public safety.
I feel that our town has much to be proud of including excellent schools, beautiful recreation areas, and a many committed volunteers. I hope to bring my professional experience and history of civic engagement to the Select Board, strengthening our community and applying a fresh perspective to the challenges ahead.
I respectfully ask for your vote on Monday, May 20 at the Middle School.
No results.