Chelmsford Planning Board Candidate Profile: Deirdre Connolly

This is one in an occasional series looking at local candidates running in the Chelmsford town election on April 6. Today we profile Deirdre Connolly. She is running for one of three seats open on the Planning Board, which is a three-year position. She will face off against Paul McDougall and incumbents Glenn Kohl and Tim Shanahan for one of three available seats up for election.

CHELMSFORD, MA — Deirdre Connolly, 57, is one of two candidates taking on two entrenched incumbents to represent the town on the Planning Board. Connolly has four children. She got her bachelors in economics at Vanderbilt, and went on to get her doctorate of medicine from Rush Medical College.

She's a physician, and for the past decade has worked at Lowell General Hospital. Connolly is a Town Meeting Member representing Precinct 1.

The Planning Board's responsibilities include guiding land-use management that preserves the character and integrity of the town through reviewing special permits and site plans for development in accordance with state and local zoning laws.

The following are responses Connolly gave to questions Patch posed to all candidates running in the race:

Why are you seeking elective office?

I was recently involved as an abutter to a supersized proposed multifamily development in the Center of town and there were aspects of the process that I did not agree with , or understand. I learned through the process that the work of the Planning Board is critical in shaping the evolution of the town. I would like to have more of a voice in this process.

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

The most pressing issue currently before the board in my opinion is the many proposals being brought forward for large multifamily residential developments. The town has infrastructure issues and is in my opinion built out. I hope to bring to the board a clear support for the opinions of the neighborhoods and the residents as we consider these large development plans.

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

I am a physician, I have no real estate or development financial ties, so I bring a common sense outside perspective.

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

I am not sure it rises to the level of the failure, however I would like to see more standardization and transparency of interactions between the town government and the planning board and developers. It seems to me that the plans when brought before the board are already far along in an advanced level of planning. I would like to see the board involved earlier so that projects that are inappropriate are turned back at an earlier stage. I would also like to see the board seek more timely posting of public information before public meetings so the neighbors and residents are able to consider and respond plans and modifications of plans that are coming before the board.

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

No issues

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I want to be a voice for the residents in Chelmsford.

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

As a physician I am accustomed to functioning in a regulated environment. I am able to synthesize large amounts of data and formulate a plan while considering the varied concerns of the people involved, sometimes during challenging circumstances.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

If you can dream it you can do it. This was instilled in me by my parents and I am trying to instill it in my children.

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

Campaign website
None

Other Planning Board Race coverage:

Paul McDougall