FramGov Moderator, Former Finance Committee Member Dunbrack Running For Charter Commissioner

Editor’s note: The following is a press release. Each candidate for Charter Commissioner is allowed to submit an announcement under Framingham Patch’s 2016 election policy.

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My name is Linda Dunbrack, and I am pleased to announce my candidacy for a seat on the Charter Commission.

I have the ideas, experience, and commitment to improve our local government. I have moderated discussion on FramGov, an online local political forum, for the last 10 years, and I previously served on the Finance Committee for six years.

As a result, I have seen first-hand the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to town government. We need to increase public confidence and trust in our local government.

I have the utmost respect for those who volunteer to serve on Town Meeting and the Board of Selectmen with real dedication and integrity. Many people involved in our government work tirelessly to make Framingham a better place to live and work.

Nevertheless, I believe quite strongly that Framingham should make significant changes in governance - changes that will lead to more responsive government and better representation for all in Framingham.

Significant reform is overdue. The cumbersome nature of our annual Town Meetings makes meaningful participation difficult for working families and others with evening commitments.

I wonder who is really represented when several precincts have high vacancy rates, absenteeism is common, and some members vote only when they have a personal or financial interest in an issue.

In addition, our Board of Selectmen spends an inordinate amount of time on the minutiae of licensing
issues rather than on the critical leadership tasks of strategic visioning, planning, and policy-making.

The Charter Commission should evaluate the pros and cons of all reasonable options for governance. Framingham could clearly do more, much more, to improve its current structure. Plymouth and Brookline offer some models that address the problems with Town Meeting. Other communities are likely to provide best practices for improving the functioning of the Board of Selectmen.

A town charter that represents a radical departure from the current structure is one reasonable option.

A city charter must also be considered - a charter that safeguards the public interest while enhancing accountability and transparency to voters and efficiency in decision-making. Such a charter would create meaningful opportunities for public participation in decision-making and provide equitable representation in government to people from all walks of life and in all areas of town.

Adequate checks and balances to protect against abuses of power and to guard against the undue influence of money in local elections are also critical.

I am committed to supporting a charter development process that has integrity and is thorough, transparent, and responsive to community input.

To learn more about my campaign and perspective on issues related to the charter commission, I invite you to visit my website and campaign Facebook page.

I will be posting on my blog regularly with my thoughts on improving our government and would welcome your feedback in the comment section.

I would consider serving on the Charter Commission to be an honor and a privilege. Please consider casting one of your nine votes for me.