Mike Gowing for Selectman

Background Homeowner - six years in town; twenty-seven years locally over thirty years of business management experience U.S. Marine Veteran Three years on COA council board, one as Secretary, one as Vice Chair Two years on the Senior Center Expansion project Local volunteer (Emerson Hospital, handyman, friendly visitor)		Characteristics Pragmatic (a realist) Innovative Consensus builder Fiscal moderate (expense control) Budget experience Hard working Strong sense of community service Mike is Endorsed by TFAA "Together for the Future of Acton"
Who is Mike Gowing and Why am I running? As for my service background, I have been on the Council on Aging Board for the past three years; this past year as Vice-Chair. I chaired several subcommittees (and participated on others) on the senior center expansion project over the past two years. I have been an individual community volunteer since 1990. In business, I have over thirty years as a successful business manager in sales, operations and service. I have budget and expense oversight experience. I am a Vietnam era U.S. Marine veteran. I have a B.S. in business administration and I am currently an M.B.A. graduate student at the University of Massachusetts. We will need to become more innovative in the next three years to prevent job loss and reductions in critical town services. The current Board of Selectmen has a good cross section of skills and abilities. There are differing views on issues, which is healthy. They are losing Andy Magee who has done a wonderful job. I think that I can step in and be a consensus builder around issues that are the most contentious at a time when we need a steady hand to maintain our momentum. I feel our town boards and departments do a very good job. There will be belt-tightening as the economy continues to contract but we are well positioned to confront these issues. Although not a senior myself, I am committed to the fastest growing population within the town. Can you tell I am an optimist? Positions on issues Taxes – Being a homeowner in town, I am very aware of the burden that the town tax rate brings, particularly to the most vulnerable population – those on a low or fixed income. As Vice-Chair of the COA, I represent a large portion of that population. Everyone would like lower taxes. That being said, tax relief can’t be selectively applied. If a tax reduction is given to one it is given to all. All based on valuation of their house. If you don’t own a house, you aren’t even eligible! A better solution would be to target the population that has the greatest need and focus on satisfying it specifically with the services they need instead of a broad-brush solution tax solution. Our taxes are efficiently used. We enjoy one of the best school systems in the state. Good schools equal good property values. I think with the current surplus, Acton is well positioned to deal with the recent economic turn. I also feel that a steady hand is needed during this time and I think I can help provide that. Things are going to get worse before they get better. I can make difficult decisions as they arise and build consensus. Schools – I think the current school committee and administration does a very decent job. One of the criteria that you have to use when evaluating how well a school system is doing is to see how many graduates go on to top lines colleges. I think that Acton is amongst the leaders of similar sized communities in the state. The population of Acton is very diverse. Strong schools will use that diversity to prepare students for real-world issues and make them understand the impact of their decisions as they move into adulthood. Acton schools do just that! Although I don’t have children in the Acton schools, I absolutely support having a top tier school system – it helps draw the best and brightest to want to live here. Sewers – There are areas in town that are in dire need of a solution. There will come a time when we will have to address the issue as an emergency if we don’t plan ahead. This kind of project takes a long time to bring to town meeting. Obviously, times are difficult right now but we can’t lose sight of the need and should develop the necessary plans to move ahead with the project. If we unexpectedly come across some federal stimulus funds we should keep this situation at hand. Green efforts – I believe we all must do our part to preserve the planet; that includes the town (after all, unlike science fiction, it’s the only one we’ve got). The town has made some good inroads such as buying hybrid vehicles, energy efficient street lights and switching to agri-fuel for the trucks but I think that we can do more in reducing the town’s carbon footprint. More solar programs would help reduce our energy requirements (and maybe even sell some back to the grid!). I can envision a solar farm located on the town landfill to capture the sun for our use. It would also signal all the people who pass through Acton on Route #2 that we are serious in our conservation efforts. Every new town building that we build should look to increase the amount of green technology used in the construction. Town character – We have a wonderful town. The character of the town flows back to revolutionary times. The village concept of development keeps the community feel and allows open space areas to be preserved. NARA Park is a gem. We need to work diligently to insure that we control the growth of the town to retain that character. We enjoy a diverse, close community with excellent opportunities for all.

As for my service background, I have been on the Council on Aging Board for the past three years; this past year as Vice-Chair. I chaired several subcommittees (and participated on others) on the senior center expansion project over the past two years. I have been an individual community volunteer since 1990. In business, I have over thirty years as a successful business manager in sales, operations and service. I have budget and expense oversight experience. I am a Vietnam era U.S. Marine veteran. I have a B.S. in business administration and I am currently an M.B.A. graduate student at the University of Massachusetts.

We will need to become more innovative in the next three years to prevent job loss and reductions in critical town services. The current Board of Selectmen has a good cross section of skills and abilities. There are differing views on issues, which is healthy. They are losing Andy Magee who has done a wonderful job. I think that I can step in and be a consensus builder around issues that are the most contentious at a time when we need a steady hand to maintain our momentum. I feel our town boards and departments do a very good job. There will be belt-tightening as the economy continues to contract but we are well positioned to confront these issues. Although not a senior myself, I am committed to the fastest growing population within the town. Can you tell I am an optimist?

Positions on issues
Taxes – Being a homeowner in town, I am very aware of the burden that the town tax rate brings, particularly to the most vulnerable population – those on a low or fixed income. As Vice-Chair of the COA, I represent a large portion of that population. Everyone would like lower taxes. That being said, tax relief can’t be selectively applied. If a tax reduction is given to one it is given to all. All based on valuation of their house. If you don’t own a house, you aren’t even eligible! A better solution would be to target the population that has the greatest need and focus on satisfying it specifically with the services they need instead of a broad-brush solution tax solution. Our taxes are efficiently used. We enjoy one of the best school systems in the state. Good schools equal good property values. I think with the current surplus, Acton is well positioned to deal with the recent economic turn. I also feel that a steady hand is needed during this time and I think I can help provide that. Things are going to get worse before they get better. I can make difficult decisions as they arise and build consensus.

Schools – I think the current school committee and administration does a very decent job. One of the criteria that you have to use when evaluating how well a school system is doing is to see how many graduates go on to top lines colleges. I think that Acton is amongst the leaders of similar sized communities in the state. The population of Acton is very diverse. Strong schools will use that diversity to prepare students for real-world issues and make them understand the impact of their decisions as they move into adulthood. Acton schools do just that! Although I don’t have children in the Acton schools, I absolutely support having a top tier school system – it helps draw the best and brightest to want to live here.

Sewers – There are areas in town that are in dire need of a solution. There will come a time when we will have to address the issue as an emergency if we don’t plan ahead. This kind of project takes a long time to bring to town meeting. Obviously, times are difficult right now but we can’t lose sight of the need and should develop the necessary plans to move ahead with the project. If we unexpectedly come across some federal stimulus funds we should keep this situation at hand.

Green efforts – I believe we all must do our part to preserve the planet; that includes the town (after all, unlike science fiction, it’s the only one we’ve got). The town has made some good inroads such as buying hybrid vehicles, energy efficient street lights and switching to agri-fuel for the trucks but I think that we can do more in reducing the town’s carbon footprint. More solar programs would help reduce our energy requirements (and maybe even sell some back to the grid!). I can envision a solar farm located on the town landfill to capture the sun for our use. It would also signal all the people who pass through Acton on Route #2 that we are serious in our conservation efforts. Every new town building that we build should look to increase the amount of green technology used in the construction.

Town character – We have a wonderful town. The character of the town flows back to revolutionary times. The village concept of development keeps the community feel and allows open space areas to be preserved. NARA Park is a gem. We need to work diligently to insure that we control the growth of the town to retain that character. We enjoy a diverse, close community with excellent opportunities for all.