Natick residents can learn about the candidates for town committees before casting their vote on March 28. Positions to be voted on are Board of Selectmen (BOS), School Committee (SC), Planning Board, Board of Assessors, Board of Health, Recreation and Parks Commissioner and Constable.
Michael Hickey and Amy Mistrot are running to fill two, three-year BOS seats. John Ciccariello was planning to run but withdrew for personal reasons in late February. Jeffrey Alderson, Donna McKenzie and Hayley Sonneborn are running for two, three-year SC seats. “Natick Local Town Pages” offered the five candidates an opportunity to submit up to 400 words on why they are running. The candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name along with their responses.
For voting information and to see the warrant, visit www.natickma.gov/1374/Annual-Town-Election-Information-March-2.
Candidates
for Selectmen
Mike Hickey
Natick’s Town Election is March 28. It’s important to know who’s on the ballot.
Meet Mike Hickey, candidate for Natick Board of Selectmen.
Mike has served on the Zoning Board of Appeals for 10 years, including three as Chairman. His experience collaborating with Board members, volunteers, and the public has inspired Mike to run for elected office. Mike appreciates that we share common concerns and pride in Natick.
On the ZBA, Mike is fair and treats people with respect. He speaks out for residents by opposing proposals that would have a negative impact on their neighborhoods, but he makes up his own mind and seeks results that are in the Town’s best interests. If elected to the Board of Selectmen, Mike will listen, learn and work toward balanced outcomes.
Natick’s rapid growth affects school enrollment, housing, traffic, and open space. Mike’s professional skills correspond well to these issues. Mike’s background in law and government includes commercial real estate and housing, public utilities, land use and zoning, transportation, economic development, open space and preservation.
Mike and his wife, Lisa, have two teens in Natick’s middle and high schools. Mike supports Natick Public Schools, with a view to identifying resources to provide students with a great public education. To protect local services, Mike cares about fiscal responsibility, transparency, and efficiency.
Mike supports local businesses and the good work taking place to make Natick Center more vibrant. He also supports creative zoning and planning tools to manage the pace of growth and help preserve Natick’s special character. And Mike looks forward to working with our state and federal partners to ensure that Natick gets its fair share. For more information, please visit www.mikehickey.org. Thank you!
Amy Mistrot
Serving for eight years as a member of the School Committee, the last three years as Chair, has helped me learn about the opportunities and challenges that Natick faces as a town, some of which are intrinsically connected to the school district and many of which are unique and well beyond the scope of the schools. We are a town that both enjoys and is challenged by our proximity to Boston, major routes, and retail amenities; an innovative school system; housing that is relatively affordable; excellent services; and a strong sense of community with a small-town feel.
Natick needs to actively plan for our future, and there are multiple trajectories to evaluate. What Natick becomes in the next five to fifteen years will be determined over the next several years. The priorities that I would like to address as one member of the Board of Selectmen are to:
Hire a new town administrator given Martha White’s retirement from Natick, announced for June 2018, ensuring strong and engaged municipal leadership to both manage and lead Natick forward. The process developed for that transition, both before and after the leadership change, will be critical for Natick.
Focus on both short- and long-term strategic budgetary planning by working closely with town administration, the school administration, and other town boards to ensure that Natick retains its excellent bond rating and addresses both the needs and priorities of the town.
Focus on “responsible stewardship” for Natick by prioritizing strategic planning; by collaborating with administrations, town boards, and citizens; and by working towards common ground on issues.
I have developed valuable municipal experience that I could now offer as member of the Board of Selectmen to help develop and implement creative solutions and be part of town-wide team that shapes Natick’s future.
Candidates for School Committee
Jeffrey Alderson
By nearly every measure, the Natick Public Schools consistently provide the best quality education – at a great financial value - to the citizens of Natick. As the first in my family to attend college I know firsthand the impact that a high quality, public school education – one that is filled with a variety of academic, sport and enrichment opportunities - can have on a child’s life. The continued success of Natick schools in preparing our children to be engaged, knowledgeable citizens requires renewed attention to those services, educators, and facilities that make our schools great – and in turn make our town a great place to live.
I recognize that maintaining the quality of our schools considering growing enrollments and limited budget will be no easy task. In the years since becoming an engineer, and the honor of serving our country as a U.S. Air Force officer, I have committed my professional career to ensuring that students, their families, and the educators that serve them have the resources they need to be successful. I have personally created technology to help guidance counselors and teachers do more with less, and look forward to finding opportunities to assist our school administrators to do the same.
I bring a wealth of experience working with non-profit boards, youth mentoring programs, and persons with disabilities and an unwavering commitment to ensuring equal access to education in an environment where every student is heard, valued, and supported. I am passionate about social justice, support services, and equality for veterans, minorities, the economically disadvantaged, and the LGBTQ community.
I very much look forward to serving the people of Natick, particularly students, parents and educators, and I truly value your support and your vote on March 28.
Donna M. McKenzie
Experience, outstanding qualifications, a love for education and the desire to serve my community propel my campaign for school committee. Rising enrollments, aging buildings, limited resources, and increased pressures on our young people will demand the best of our planning to bring our schools into the future with excellence and strength. I am the best candidate to do this.
As the only candidate to have served as a Town Meeting member, I understand how the school budget fits into the town budget and how best to promote a budget acceptable to the overall needs of the town. The schools belong to all of us and taxpayers support public schools because schools prepare students to be responsible and informed citizens. Education for citizenship is important now more than ever. I will represent everyone to ensure our schools are a showpiece and our town a place where education is our center. We have a good school system that I think I can help become even better. I would like to reconsider the option of a delayed start for high school students, bolster reading and writing curricula, especially for middle school students, strengthen emotional and physical wellness programs, enhance the ways in which we create inclusive classrooms for students with Individual Education Plans, and expand successful programs that end bullying and discrimination in our schools.
I have a Ph.D. in ethics and have taught at Cornell and Fordham, as well as Boston College High School, and other middle and high school programs. I have a wealth of administrative and research experience that will help us as we analyze how best to move forward and pro-actively plan to address future needs. I am fiscally prudent, highly creative, a good listener and consensus builder and look forward to working for you.
Hayley Sonneborn
I am excited to be running for election to the Natick School Committee to ensure that all students have the support they need to succeed, and to help guarantee our schools are part of a responsibly managed and thriving community. I look forward to being an accessible advocate for academics and a pragmatic partner in planning for our community’s future.
I have always had a passion for education. I worked as a high school English teacher at a top Massachusetts school for close to a decade. I have been a resident of Natick since 2001 and currently have children enrolled in 3rd grade at Ben-Hem Elementary School and 6th grade at Wilson Middle School. At Ben- Hem, I was elected and served two terms on School Council.
I will bring a community-oriented perspective to the committee to promote high quality academics across all schools, and ensure we address all of our students’ needs while providing great value for taxpayers. I have a collaborative approach to local government and look forward to working effectively with other boards, committees, departments and members of the community.
Our school population is surging because of the investment we have made in education. I will help the committee plan strategically and creatively to get the most value for our budget, and advocate for the faculty, programming and facilities that are essential to our changing needs.
It is essential that our budget, planning, achievements and challenges are well understood. As a school committee member, I will promote district transparency, accountability and understanding, both among school families and the wider community. I value public input, and I will be available to anyone with questions, ideas and concerns about the Natick schools.
I am eager to bring my educator experience and expertise to the School Committee with the help of your vote on March 28!