LETTER TO WESTWOOD FRIENDS by TONY MULLIN: On Gratitude and Optimism after Election

Westwood Friends,

With the completion of the Westwood Town Election on April 26, I want to recognize those individuals and groups that made the town election so successful.

Thank you to the 2,728 residents that voted on a rainy day. This was the most voters in 14 years in a Westwood town election. Westwood only grows stronger when residents participate in our democratic process and town government.

I would like to recognize Dottie Powers, Westwood’s town clerk, and her entire team including the election day volunteers for implementing such a successful election. Having all five precincts at one consolidated location for the first time was a tremendous undertaking. The voting went smoothly and was very well organized. Thank you to Westwood Media for covering the election results as they were shared with the community live from the High School.

Thank you to all the candidates that ran in the uncontested races: Christopher McKeowen (Assessor), Paul Fitzgerald (Library Trustee), Nancy Donahue (Library Trustee), James O'Sullivan (Moderator), Kathleen Wynne (Planning Board), Joshua Ames (Planning Board), Marianne LeBlanc Cummings (Select Board), David Krumsiek (Sewer Commissioner) and Elaine de Reyna (Tax Collector). Westwood is fortunate to have so many talented elected officials serving the community.

Those candidates in contested races for the one-year seat on the planning board and the school committee are to be commended for engaging in campaigns and furthering discussion on key issues. Thank you to Philip Giordano and Thomas McCusker for participating in the one-year planning board race. Thank you to Heather Morrison and Dori Parmelee in joining me in the School Committee race.

Finally, while this election did highlight some differences in our town, I believe that by engaging in healthy civil discussion, we can work together to make Westwood even stronger. There is no town in the Commonwealth that matches Westwood with our combination of top ranked schools, strong fiscal management, committed Public Safety team members and the outstanding services provided by our municipal departments.

Best wishes and see you around town.

Tony Mullin