Brookline Select Board 2021 Candidate Profile: Donelle O'Neal

BROOKLINE, MA — Donelle O'Neal, 41, a Town Meeting Member for Precinct 4 and who has been active on the Advisory Committee is running for the highest elected office in town.

O'Neal is one of five candidates vying for two open seats on the Brookline Select Board. Town Meeting Member Miriam Aschkenasy, Select Board Chair Bernard Greene and Nancy Heller as well as former town sustainability manager Zoe Lynn are also running.

O'Neal grew up in Brookline with his brother JJ, who worked for the town's water department for some 20 years, and his sister who was involved with the food pantry. He has two sons, one who is a sophomore at the high school and active in sports, his younger son was diagnosed with autism and attends the Heath School.

O'Neal graduated from the high school in 1998, and had plans to go on to higher education but when his mother lost her job, he decided stay and help the family, taking a job with the Brookline DPW. Later trained to become a certified nurse's assistant.

He's been a nurse's assistant at Spaulding Rehab in the pulmonary unit, he has a second job keeping an eye on high risk patients. O'Neal is in his third term as an elected Town Meeting member and was selected to join the Advisory Committee, where he served on the personnel and public safety committees.

Patch reached out to all the candidates and presented the same list of questions for each, here's how O'Neal responded:

Why are you seeking elective office?

I'm seeking the executive branch because their decisions affect people's lives right away.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

There's a lack of empathy for others. I intend to make the invisible, the folks who haven't been visible for years in town, visible. I intend to show empathy. The problem that the select board has, the reason they don't show empathy, is they're not connected to the problem.

What I have done most recently, is change the public comment policy for the select board. I was so frustrated with Bernard Greene cutting off the mic for people who spoke too long, I suggested having the vice chair have influence on the public comment portion of the select board meeting. They've actually been implementing it. It's huge. Since then, it's been a lot better.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I want to say the main critical thing is that I have actually gone through the whole process here in town.

I would be the only sitting select board member who grew up, worked in the town at DPW, served in the town, and has kids here.

My skin color aside, just my lived and governmental experience alone is unique and different from the others in the race. I've served over a decade here, and have served on two committees on the Advisory Committee.

And I've actually tried to create opportunities for others in those positions: for example I worked on creating the racial equity advancement fund, that's different too.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

There's been a lot of outcry for empathy. That's the biggest thing. We have folks going to the Select Board asking for help or just to be heard. Instead of the Select Board correcting the issue, they've been sweeping it under the rug.

For example, a neighbor of mine whistle blew on Sanctuary Medicinals and they covered it up, now the state has a case open against Sanctuary, it's going to be an "I told you so moment." The state shouldn't have to come in when someone in the town has already spoken up about it, and we could have handled it. The hardest thing being an elected official is you see your constituents every day, and you have to answer to them every day.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I think they did the best they could do. I'm not disappointed in the way they handled it. The town leaned on their DPH for a reason. I wish there was more outreach for the home bound folks, and the disabled who can't get out, like Boston did with the mobile clinic. I would have loved to see that.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Peace, justice, love and equity. I feel those are the most crucial.

We haven't treated others in town the way they'd like to be treated. Earl Simmons, of DMX, passed away recently, and I relate to one of his quotes: "To live is to suffer, but to survive is to find meaning in the suffering."

I feel like I've survived. And everything I've gone through I'm finding meaning in it. Everything on top of being a Black male in town I've experienced the obstacles and I know where to help folks with those obstacles — from being heard by the Select Board, or even how to retain a job here in town. A long time ago, then Select Board member Bobby Allen used to come to visit DPW and it gave us the opportunity to tell him what we needed. That type of thing needs to happen more.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have a decade in Town Meeting experience alone. I've put in the hours of volunteer work. My experience on the Advisory Committee, where there's way more time you put in than on the Select Board, also shows what I can do: I was able to be on two subcommittees on the AC and still carry my weight. I'm accessible, my phone rings all day long, and I get back to everyone. I have been able to prioritize my job, politics and family. I would bring balance to the Select Board.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Do unto others as you want done unto you. The Golden Rule.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I just want to bring back respect. I've actually put in a lot of time and effort in trying to make real opportunities happen now instead of later. For example, that racial advancement equity fund is what I want to see happen here, because it brings opportunities, such as homeownership, wifi, entrepreneurship, maybe Brookline's first minority owned marijuana shop. I feel like I would just bring balance to that select board. If anyone has questions or suggestions please reach out. Please vote for me May 4.

Campaign website
https://www.donelleoneal.com/

Interview with O'Neal: