Milford 2021 Candidate Profile: Bryan Cole For Planning Board

MILFORD, MA — The Milford Planning Board will have a new face after the spring election.

Planning Board Chair Lena McCarthy is not seeking reelection in 2021. Initially, newcomers Bryan Cole and John Ted DePalo Jr. stepped up to run for the seat, but DePalo withdrew his candidacy near the filing deadline.

Patch sent Cole a candidate questionnaire so voters can get to know the impending new Planning Board member better. Here's how he answered:

Bryan Cole

Age (as of Election Day): 36
Position Sought: Planning Board
Family: wife Ashley, daughter Mattina
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No. In fact, my father only registered to vote a couple of years ago.
Education: B.S.E., Tulane University of Louisiana, 2007 (electrical engineering/mathematics); M.S. and Ph.D., Boston University, 2012 (electrical engineering)
Occupation: R&D analyst, Chicago Cubs since 2016
Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Currently vice chair on the Milford Cultural Council and a town meeting member for precinct 8. Previously co-chair of the town's elections working group.
Campaign website: http://www.bcolemilford.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

As a young resident, I want to bring a fresh perspective on our town’s issues. And as the father of a young daughter, I’m also running to make Milford a great place for her to grow up in.

The single most pressing issue facing our town is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

To me, our most pressing issue is a lack of collaboration with other town departments and boards. I will use my existing working relationships with members of the select board, highway department, downtown revitalization committee, cultural council and others to bring positive, proactive change to Milford.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

If elected, I will work to proactively tackle quality-of-life issues, including preserving our town’s historical character. And I will work to build relationships with state agencies, other town departments, and local residents and business owners to streamline our efforts to build the future we all want for our town.

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

In addition to the job I've done on the Cultural Council and my other public service commitments, I would point to my ability to learn on the fly. Whether in grad school or in my first few jobs or even now with the Cubs, I've never shied away from an unfamiliar challenge or subject.