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Skills, Experience, and Disposition

I’ll never forget my first conversation with Selectman Al Goldberg. I’d recently moved back to Madison and wanted to get involved in local government—and was told to call Al. I was preparing to be grilled on my political experience, quizzed about local issues, and expected to say the right things. Instead, I had a deep, inspiring, and soul-nourishing conversation about values, family, and my life’s unique purpose with a man who would become not only a political advisor, but a personal mentor and cherished friend.

Al is the picture of humble, committed, authentic servant leadership. He’s measured, thoughtful, and self-aware. As a senior statesman, he carries his wisdom and experience with modesty, never taking himself too seriously. Al has a remarkable capacity to see the big picture, avoid distractions, and lead with values. I’ve seen it working alongside him on political campaigns, the Democratic Town Committee, and the Academy School Committee—and have felt particularly grateful for his support and guidance during the personal ups and downs of my last few years.

Madison has been lucky to benefit from Al’s leadership for more than a decade. He’s developed a deep understanding of the way our town functions and a keen ability to navigate municipal minutiae. He considers himself lucky to have been entrusted with his community’s well-being, approaching his work as a selectman with reverence for the institution and the highest moral and ethical standards.

It was Al’s bike I rode all over town last year, and it’s been Al’s spirit that I—and so many others—have emulated in my approach to public service. And on Nov. 5, I’ll be proud to vote for Al Goldberg, a man who values people over politics, and has the skills, experience, and disposition to help us realize Madison’s extraordinary possibility.

John-Michael Parker

Madison