SuttonHighNews conducted an interview with each candidate running for the Planning Board. Our goal is to provide a more comprehensive look at each candidate so voters can make an informed decision.
SuttonHighNews is not endorsing any candidate. The interviews are being released in a random order with no intent to give anyone more or less time.
All candidates were given the questions in advance. We asked the same questions, in the same order, to each candidate.
How do we create affordable housing in Sutton?
We need first and foremost to have partnership with community members, which we can do through including them in the process. Providing surveys, community updates, and public forums are all wonderful tools that we can use to understand how the people of the town want this project to be conducted. I think that additional housing that is developed in town should match the vernacular, feel, and rural charm of greater Sutton.
What makes you qualified to be on the Planning Board? What skills/credentials do you bring? What motivated you to run?
I have lived in Sutton for my entire life. I have lived in both West and East Sutton, and for this reason am familiar with the issues and concerns that can come up on both sides of town from personal experience. I have an interest in community planning, and a lot of experience with community outreach. Some students and parents might actually recognize me from the last few years as a substitute teacher, summer swim instructor, and town volunteer (my maiden name is Goddard, I just got married!). I am running for one reason- my love of this town and the folks in it. I frequently contribute to the community in any way possible through volunteer work, and it would be my honor to represent the interest of Sutton residents via a seat on the planning board.
What are your goals for Sutton? Where do you want to see Sutton by the end of your term? In five years? In ten years?
I think that taking care to make sure that the elderly have options for affordable housing is important – After all, many have been here for decades and have helped contribute to and shape the town that we all know and love.
I would like to see Sutton get to a point where the taxpayers feel that they are getting the transparency and inclusion in community planning that I believe that they are entitled to. I would like to do my part to help to restore some faith in this process.
If there are going to be developments, we need to make this happen responsibly and transparently, and with the input from the people of the town.
It is hard to put a time stamp on any of this to be honest-but I can assure Sutton residents that I would be consistently working towards these goals for as long as I hold a seat on the planning board.
What are your priorities should you win?
I would like to help preserve agriculture and the environment because I think that our farming community is important. I would like to help our senior population feel that they have not been forgotten, and that they have been and are still a tremendously important part of our community through providing opportunity for adequate senior housing. I would also like to help bring true partnership with the community back to the overall planning process.
Message to the voters
I love this town. I grew up here, met my husband here, and we hope to raise a family here. I am in this for the long haul, and I am passionate about my community and the direction it goes in. If given the opportunity, I would love to be able to work with and represent the people of this town via the planning board.
