Milford Candidate Profile: James Wheelock, Board Of Assessors

MILFORD, MA — There are five contested races in the 2021 Milford spring election, including for a seat on the Board of Assessors.

Incumbent Joshua Lioce is ending his first four-year term, and is facing a challenge from resident James Wheelock. Milford Patch has asked both candidates to fill out our 2021 questionnaire to help voters get to know them better. Here's how Wheelock answered:

James Wheelock

Age (as of Election Day): 55
Position Sought: Board of Assessors
Family: Brenda and I have been together for over 20 years, and we have two terrific teenagers who attend Stacy Middle and Milford High School.
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? Brenda was a town meeting member for several years, and served on the Milford Youth Commission for about six years. Last year, she began working the polls for the town--though not this one as I’m on the ballot.
Education: GED
Occupation: Carpenter
Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Town Meeting member
Campaign website: James Wheelock for Board of Assessors

Why are you seeking elective office?

I would like to have more direct participation in developing processes that affect Milford residents. For over 15 years, I’ve been paying attention to Milford municipal issues and budgets, and have been speaking at many board and committee meetings, public hearings, and town meetings. Many of the Board of Assessors’ responsibilities align with my interests and strengths.

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

The single most pressing issue facing our community is paying for Milford’s municipal obligations and addressing long-neglected opportunities for growth in services because this will require sourcing additional revenue for the town. For example, the Board of Assessors is in a unique position to take up the issue of negotiating payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreements with Milford’s largest non-profits, and set TIF guidelines before the town enters negotiations with prospective businesses to ensure that the discount percentages are not egregious giveaways to already prosperous companies that in no way require the tax breaks to grow their businesses.

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

The incumbent’s career in the real estate industry has given him strong ties to local developers and commercial property owners in a way that may be seen as not equitably serving the interests of individual property owners.

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

My point of view differs from the incumbent because I am not beholden to relationships developed within the real estate industry. My lens is the people of Milford, and how do I make sure that their needs are met within my purview on the Board of Assessors.

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

With over 525,000 Covid-19 deaths, it’s important to recognize the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic. While I support the Board of Health's overall approach in trying to keep Milford safe from Covid-19, the closing of Town Hall to the public had a damaging effect on municipal transparency, including the inability of the citizenry to interact with town employees in a smooth, timely, and efficient way. Key stakeholders did not follow best practices for remote/virtual meetings, and did not provide equitable public access to municipal meetings as the Covid-19 OML guidelines clearly outline. Still, just last week, a FinCom subcommittee meeting was held inside a closed Town Hall; it was not made available for public access, nor was it recorded for public viewing. This is a serious OML violation—and a breach of public trust—from a committee that ran into trouble nine months ago for the same offense. Municipal transparency matters.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I will continue speaking up for issues that deserve attention, such as nonprofit tax reform, equitable taxation, municipal transparency, and progressive reform.

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

The responsibilities of a Board of Assessors member fall well within the abilities of many Milford residents, and I am confident that I can fulfill my obligation.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

“Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.” Louis Brandeis

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

I am a big fan of Milford’s outdoor spaces. In my free time, my wife and I do what we can to keep the quarries clean. I am in the development stage to bring back the Open Space Committee with the purpose of incorporating better land use decisions, and create a series of trail maps to promote Milford’s extensive trail network on municipal owned properties/conservation land. I’m continuing my efforts towards getting Town Hall to incorporate clickable links in all online agenda/meeting/hearing notices. I’m a firm supporter of maintaining Milford’s dual tax rate.