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Energy, Dedication, and Commitment

I will be voting for Jennifer Gordon for first selectmen. Having lived in Madison since 2017, Jen has immersed herself and her family in our community. Volunteerism, community spirit, and community support are written on Jen’s heart! From Newcomers President to Ryerson PTO President, then as an elected member of our Board of Education, to Jen’s current position on the Board of Selectmen, replacing the irreplaceable Noreen Kokoruda, I know Jen will bring the same energy, dedication, and commitment as our First Selectmen.

The most important attribute Jen will bring to the job is transparency and independence. I believe our current administration is too beholden to the unelected Madison Democratic Town Committee leadership (DTC). For example, there was a wholesale changeover of the Planning and Zoning Commission under the mantra of “giving new people a chance to serve,” and yet the commission has since struggled to fill vacancies, with four of its 12 positions remaining empty. If we want “to give others a chance to serve”, then why does the DTC chairperson sit on several influential town committees, including Charter Review, Capital Project spending, and the Academy School Building Committee?

Furthermore, as the self-described CEO of our town, our town leader needs to be involved in all decisions that affect our community. If you want to take credit for the good things that happen, then you also must accept responsibility when bad things happen. For example, regarding the recent disciplinary action involving multiple police officers, should the first selectmen defer to the Police Commission? I don’t know enough to comment on the appropriate outcome in this case, but I do know that our First Selectmen should be involved in the process.

I will be voting for commitment, transparency, and independence. I will be voting for Jen Gordon!

Justin Murphy

Madison