Wayland 2021 Candidate Profile: Abner Bruno For Public Works

WAYLAND, MA — The race for Wayland Public Works Board is one of the most crowded in the spring 2021 election.

There are four candidates, including incumbent Clifford Lewis, running for two seats on the board. Member Jonathan Mishara is not seeking reelection this year. The race has special significance this year due the recent discovery of PFAS chemicals in one of Wayland's main water sources.

Ahead of the May 11 election, Patch sent each candidate running in a competitive race a candidate questionnaire. Here's how Board of Public Works candidate Abner Bruno answered.

Abner Bruno

Age (as of Election Day): 39
Position Sought: Board of Public Works
Family: Wife: Nora Bruno (44); Daughter: Vanessa Bruno (12); Son: Aron Bruno (10)
Education: Bachelor's in Finance from Framingham State University
Occupation: 3.5 years in the Finance Department of one of the biggest online travel agencies in the world
Campaign website: abnerbruno.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

With my skills in finance and process improvement, and a clear dedication to our town, I am seeking the opportunity to serve my community. In Wayland, I have spent much of my time and energy building relationships with fellow residents as a neighbor, a father, and an avid Wayland Men’s League softball player. By engaging consistently in our town meetings, my interest was sparked to learn and do even more to benefit our town. Especially in light of the recent water supply testing results on elevated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), I would be honored to serve on the BPW for the Town of Wayland.

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

PFAS: Upon hearing of the PFAS news, it sparked concern and I knew there was an urgency for me to educate myself on this topic. I have quickly become abreast of what PFAS are, where they come from, how they get into our water supply, and how they affect people. Federal guidelines recommend public water supplies test under 70 parts per trillion (ppt). The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection mandates we test under 20 ppt. The Happy Hollow well, which accounts for 50% of the town water supply, tested above 20 ppt in January and February. As conversations are ongoing, there are two options at the forefront; connect our water line to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA)’s system or treat the Happy Hollow well. Both options will incur similar costs. I will continue to explore this topic and pledge that I will be thoughtful and ready to join the board to tackle this issue as the conversations evolve.

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

I bring a fresh point of view with a passion to help improve my town for this generation and future generations alike. I believe the biggest critical difference between myself and the other candidates is my willingness to work with all residents to ensure our town continues to grow and thrive.

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

I prefer to not focus on any mistakes of my fellow residents whom volunteer their time. It's more important to come together to make educated decisions that help our community.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

ED&I: This issue is the most important to me as my wife and I identify as Latino/a and Latinx/Hispanics account for only 2.5% of the town's population. Wayland has been great to my family, and we've built relationships with people from various backgrounds and walks of like, however, we are not diverse enough nor are minorities (of all kinds) in the town represented enough. Recent social movements have pushed this issue to a higher priority. I believe our town needs to continue to prioritize ED&I as this creates a culture that respects and values differences in individuals of varying dimensions. I support the stance of Board of Selectmen nominee, Adam Gutbezahl's, to push for more diverse appointments to the Town's boards as well as the hiring of an Inclusion Officer.

Transparency: Transparency is an obligation our town has to share information with us that is needed to make informed decisions. With the recent PFAS news, it is more important than ever to hold those trusted to make decisions for us accountable. If I am so honored to be voted as a representative for my fellow residents I will keep an open line of communication. Please use the contact page on the website(abnerbruno.com) for any questions and I will reach out or call if needed.

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

Employed as an Accounting Operations Analyst at one of the world’s largest online travel agencies, I am charged with the task of analyzing, studying, and diagnosing processes within the finance department. Once issues have been diagnosed, my role involves implementing accurate and efficient practices that focus on process improvement. I am thoughtful and organized in my consideration and problem-solving, and I plan to apply this same skill set on the BPW with enthusiasm and care.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

This is a great question as I have received so much great advice from mentors. I'll say it would have to be to stay the most authentic to myself. My passion for the Wayland community comes across to anyone that meets me because it's real. I will continue to use my instinct as a barometer when making decisions along with strenuous research.