Candidate Profile: Janice Phillips For North Andover Select Board

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — North Andover will have two contested races in the March 30 town election: School Committee and Board of Selectmen. North Andover Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles over the coming weeks.

Janice Phillips is running for election to the Select Board. There are three people running for two available seats. Philips faces Joe Finn and incumbent Richard Vaillancourt.

Phillips is the Northern Essex Registry of Deeds director of community engagement and ran Christina Minicucci’s campaign for state representative.

Are you running for office in North Andover? Contact Christopher Huffaker at chris.huffaker@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to North Andover Patch.

Previously on Patch: North Andover Election Guide: Who's Running

Janice Phillips

Age (as of Election Day)

43

Position Sought

Select Board

Family

I am married to Chris, for 20 years. We have two awesome teenagers who keep us very busy. Abigail is 17 and a Junior at NAHS and Alex is 13 and a 7th grader at NAMS.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders from Boston University in 1999 and have completed extensive graduate-level coursework in Health Communications, also at Boston University.

Occupation

Director of Community Engagement, Northern Essex Registry of Deeds- 15 Months

Professional birth and postpartum doula- 12 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

https://janiceforna.com/ or www.facebook.com/JaniceForNA

Why are you seeking elective office?

Because the work conducted by the Select Board is important for all. Between the severe impact of the Columbia Gas explosions on residents and businesses and the COVID public health crisis, I have witnessed North Andover rise to the challenges we face. My extensive work in our community gives me a unique perspective into the pulse of our town.

My work with the Atkinson School PTO, The North Andover Farmers Market- including volunteer coordinator and coordinator of external programs roles, serving on the board of the North Andover Merchants Association, coordinating The North Andover Front Steps Project, managing the Neighbors in Need diaper and formula program have prepared me to get to work for all residents of North Andover.

Serving on the Select Board will allow me to continue to strengthen those community ties to assure that all voices are heard. As a member of the Select Board it is my job to represent the interests of all residents, not to push forward a personal agenda.

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

There are plenty of pressing issues on the horizon for North Andover, school funding, building needs, smart growth, inappropriate development and many more. We need to put aside personal agendas and get to work representing the interests of all residents.

At this very moment, without a doubt, the most immediate issue facing our town is getting COVID vaccinations into the arms of all who wish to be vaccinated. Working to facilitate this is one of the most important ways we will protect our most vulnerable residents and get to work helping our small businesses recover. The North Andover team, in collaboration with the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center has already run a successful clinic.

As vaccine becomes available to our community, I will work in any capacity necessary to assure a smooth and quick rollout. If it means making phone calls to get people on the schedule, I’ll do it. If that means finding or providing transportation, I’ll work to make it happen. If that means staffing a clinic with volunteers, let’s get to work!

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

I have a proven record of getting to work on behalf of all residents. I am particularly skilled at building meaningful relationships, facilitating open communication and developing thoughtful collaboration. This sets me apart. I am already accessible, receptive and responsive in our community and serving on the Select Board gives me the opportunity to continue that work on behalf of all residents. Bringing people with diverse perspectives to the table and finding common ground is critical to moving North Andover forward and I will get to work immediately to make this happen.

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

I have to object to the premise of your question. Failed is a strong word. It is not productive to pit people acting in good faith against each other.

We always have opportunities for improvement and it’s often easier to see from the outside. Over the past few years, I have seen that the residents of North Andover want to feel fully invested and included in the process before a project is brought to the forefront. People deserve to have their voice heard and I will work to approach the challenges we face in a logical and inclusive way in order to build consensus whenever possible. I’ve worked hard to do that my entire professional and personal life.

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

Since March 13, 2020 our lives have changed beyond what we could imagine. With guidance being updated daily, our local officials have worked hard to effectively communicate important information to all residents. There are certainly times when we have all been frustrated at the slow roll out of information or programs and there have been hiccups along the way, but some of our local officials have worked tirelessly to be transparent and to communicate effectively as they pivot and change course, sometimes multiple times each day.

We should always strive for better and I’d welcome working collaboratively with the school side over the emotional interests of our children’s education. I have seen first-hand that many of our officials have worked to bridge the gaps in our community that have resulted from the impact of COVID, including adapting the North Andover food pantry to serve more of our community. I will continue that work well into the future, as we get to work healing from the scars COVID has left on our community.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Getting to work on behalf of all residents of North Andover is my number one priority. We have to foster community engagement across many issues. I will continue the work I am already doing to deepen our community roots, improve communication and engagement, and facilitate thoughtful collaboration. Our schools remain a priority, and the next few years will require incredible collaboration among all residents to move our schools forward. The work to plan the revitalization of our downtown is in process, and as a member of the Board of the North Andover Merchants Association I look forward to the opportunity to get to work on behalf of our small businesses.

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

In addition to raising two children almost to adulthood, jumping in to work for our community through serving on the PTO, volunteering with Understanding our Differences, serving on The North Andover Farmers Market board, helping to bring Amazon to North Andover, running Christina Minicucci’s campaign for state representative which introduced me to many state issues and gave me a deeper understanding of the political life and community needs of our town, my professional career has prepared me to be a member of the Select Board.

For 12 years, I worked supporting mothers and families through birth and the “fourth trimester”. Building relationships, listening, respecting knowledge, and understanding that everyone brings something to the table were paramount to my success. There is not a more transferrable skill set to the position of Select Board.

Working to creatively solve problems and ensure that people have enough information to make informed decisions is second nature to me. I’m proud of my accomplishments and the skills I have developed and know that I will put them to good use working for North Andover.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Regarding running for Select Board: Do NOT run for office in search of recognition. Be sure your motivation is selfless, that you serve with an open mind, and a willingness to do the right thing even when it is hard.

People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. – Theodore Roosevelt

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

It will be a privilege to elevate my service to the residents of North Andover. I will work hard to create opportunities for easy engagement, to continue the work to improve communication and collaboration, and to foster an inclusive community. Let’s get to work!

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.