Stoughton Election Profile: Reggie Nunnally, Redevelopment Board

STOUGHTON, MA — Stoughton's town election is April 6. Stoughton Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles over the coming weeks.

Although Reggie Nunnally is running unopposed for a seat on the Redevelopment Authority Board, he said it's important he introduces himself to voters and assure them he has the experience to do the job.

Are you running for office in Stoughton Contact Jimmy Bentley at jimmy.bentley@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Stoughton Patch.

Learn a little more about Nunnally in the profile below:

Age (as of Election Day)

68

Position Sought

Stoughton Redevelopment Authority Board member

Family

I am married to Kathlean Nunnally, we have two adult children and two grandchildren

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My daughter works for the Mansfield Department of Education

Education

I’ve attended Newman Preparatory School in the Back Bay of Boston, graduated from Boston College High School and Providence College. I did my post graduate work at Boston University and received training at Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Occupation

I’ve been involved with economic development and housing matters for over thirty years with the city of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. My career highlights include shepherding the process for the financing and development of the Grove Hall Mecca Mall, the Hampton Inn and Round House Hotel in lower Roxbury, the South End Health Center as well as a manufacturing plant and neighborhood restaurant.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

I was unanimously appointed to the Stoughton Redevelopment Board after an extensive interview process but the Stoughton Select Board, Planning Board and the Stoughton Redevelopment Authority in 2019

Why are you seeking elective office?

I want to continue as a Stoughton Redevelopment Authority Board member to complete the operational infrastructure, including an operational manual and personnel policy. In addition I will work towards the development of an Urban Renewal Plan for the redevelopment of the town center. Identifying projects that are feasible privately financed without further burdening the town tax base but adding to the towns revenue and creating jobs for Stoughton residents

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

The single most pressing issue in the district is Zoning, the Planning Board has hired a consultant to work through the re-zoning process and is making progress. The Stoughton Redevelopment Authority is working in tandem with the Planning Board to insure the Urban Renewal Plan is in alignment. And both boards are keeping the Select Board and Community aware of the progress. This process is critical for the town to have any significant development in its center.

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

Although I am running unopposed, I think it is important for me to introduce myself to Stoughton town residents to insure them that I have the experience and knowledge to be part of a team to move the town forward.

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

The Stoughton Redevelopment Authority has been around for a number of years. Technology Drive is a prime example of what an authority can do for a town. The project created a number of jobs and brings in much needed tax revenue to the town. Although the authority is an independent government entity it must work more closely with the other Boards and Committees responsible for economic development. I believe in the three-legged stool approach to development. Each leg of the stool is represented by the Community, Government and the private sector. If any one of those entities is missing the stool will not stand and significant development will not occur. This approach insures transparency for all stakeholders.

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

We have not experienced this type of pandemic since 1918. This was and is a disease that virtually no one knew anything about, or how to deal with it from a community perspective. In my opinion the local officials did the best they could with the limited resources available. The Government remained open and functional. In hind site if there was one thing I would have done differently was encourage the Stoughton banking collaborative to come together and develop a marketing campaign to inform the residents as to how serious the virus was and how important it was to wear masks and comply with the social distancing as well as encourage people to get the vaccine. The Patch did a wonderful job informing the area residents as to how many people actual were hospitalized.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

My campaign platform is simple, I want to be part of the team that moves the town of Stoughton to the next economic strata. Creating jobs with a living wage, developing housing for middle income working families and producing additional revenue for the town.

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

I was part of a team that brought Roxbury, Dorchester, South Boston, parts of Jamaica Plain and the South End of Boston together to attract economic opportunities that was the catalyst for transforming some of those neighborhoods to destination locations. I have the experience, I have some working knowledge of state funding, and it is now Stoughton needs that experience to insure it is participating in federal funds that will be earmarked for Massachusetts in the not to distant future. I am the right person at the right time for the right reason for this position.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The best advice I ever received was “When in Charge act like you are in Charge, Take responsibility for making the hard decisions and be accountable for your actions”

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

In my thirty-year career, I have been honest, I believe my integrity speaks for itself and I have no alternative motives but to see the town of Stoughton grow, and establish itself as the front door to Boston and not the town that you go through to get to the city.