Wayland 2021 Candidate Profile: Adam Gutbezhal For Selectmen

WAYLAND, MA — Wayland will have two new members of the Board of Selectmen following the May election.

Incumbent Board of Selectmen members Lea Anderson and Mary Antes are not seeking reelection this year. Only two town residents have stepped up to run for the seats, which means that Trust Fund Commission Chair Adam Gutbezahl and Finance Committee member Carol Martin will ascend to the Board of Selectmen following the election.

We sent both Martin and Gutbezahl a candidate questionnaire to help voters get to know the two impennding Board of Selectmen members. Here's how Gutbezahl answered.

Adam Gutbezahl

Age (as of Election Day): 36
Position Sought: Board of Selectmen
Family: Jennifer (wife), Tucker (2.5 years old), Yogi (5 year old dog), and Baby Boy Number coming in the middle of May 2021
Education: Bachelors of Arts in International Affairs from The George Washington University and a Juris Doctor from The George Washington University Law School
Occupation: After years of working in the public sector as a legislative assistant, I have been working as a litigation attorney for the past 6 years, and represent individuals and companies over a wide array of practice areas.
Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Wayland Cultural Council (Appointed September 2017); Wayland Trust Fund Commission (Elected April 2019); Wayland Finance Committee (Appointed July 2019)
Campaign website: adamforwayland.org

Why are you seeking elective office?

To ensure that the voices of all Wayland residents are being heard and considered when decisions are made by Town government.

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

Communication. I intend to ensure the Board of Selectmen serves the interests of all residents of the Town of Wayland. I will hold weekly office hours to make myself available to all residents and ensure the Town hears from a wide array of constituents and stakeholders. I will also coordinate with the public and the Town to reform and improve how the Town's residents may engage with local government and ensure that their voices are heard, whether it be through Facebook, holding community forums, or noticing and publishing a public comment period for particular topics.

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

Youth and experience.

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

I have great respect for how the Board of Selectmen handled the COVID-19 pandemic, especially considering the many unknowns at the outset of the state of emergency. The Town operated very well despite having to work at reduced capacity. As with many other areas of Town governance, communication as to what was happening and what may happen next could have been improved.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

In addition to improving communication, there are three other issues I wish to tackle if I am lucky enough to join the Board of Selectmen. First, the Town needs to better engage in long-term planning with respect to how it manages and maintains its assets. Second, Wayland can (and must) do more to ensure that it is a community that welcomes people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. The Town is taking a good first step by creating a Human Rights, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee ("HRDEIC"). No person presently employed by the Town is professionally qualified to ensure the HRDEIC accomplishes its mission and properly serves the community. I will continue to push for Wayland to hire an Equity and Inclusion Coordinator. Finally, Wayland needs to better coordinate with its neighboring community in how it combats the climate crisis. We as a community have taken actions to reduce our carbon footprint; however, we are guilty of "paralysis by analysis" in taking more action. We should be speaking with our neighbors and peer towns and working more actively with them on this front. Hiring a part-time Sustainability Officer would ensure the Town's actions are performed in a coordinated and consistent manner.

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

While working for the legislative branch in the District of Columbia, I drafted legislation that successfully was enacted into law on numerous occasions. I also oversaw the functioning of government agencies with multi-billion dollar budgets to ensure that tax dollars were properly spent. I have effectively used that experience as a member of the Wayland Finance Committee and Trust Fund Commission. Additionally, my experience as a litigator has served me in the ability to analyze the many documents that come before the Town and be prepared to dig into the minutiae and ensure the community fully understands what is being discussed.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Do not push off for tomorrow what you can accomplish today.

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

If I am lucky enough to serve on the Board of Selectmen, I will strive every day to ensure that the Town serves your interests and not vice versa.