David Atkins To Run For Westwood Select Board

The following was submitted as a campaign announcement by David Atkins for Westwood's April 27th town election. If you would like to submit a campaign announcement email samantha.mercado@patch.com.

David L. Atkins, Jr. announced his candidacy today for the Westwood Select Board. Currently chair of the Westwood Planning Board, Atkins has cited the need for greater transparency on key issues facing the town, including development, recreation and open space, and public health.

“As a planning board member, my focus on transparency has been how information from the town is shared. But I came to realize that no matter how many conditions the Planning Board votes to impose on a project, the Select Board is ultimately responsible for ensuring we consistently engage residents with honesty and integrity,” Atkins said in his announcement.

Atkins, who has three children in the Westwood Public Schools, works for Steward Healthcare as a software development manager. His wife Jennifer is a school nurse in Dedham.

Raising a young family in Westwood, Atkins saw a need to connect neighborhoods with safe walking paths and bicycling routes. In 2008, he convinced the Select Board to create the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee, which has helped make local streets, sidewalks, and running paths safer for everyone.

Inspired by his experience helping his mother find affordable senior housing, Atkins won election to Westwood’s Housing Authority in 2014. He was elected to the planning board in 2016 on a platform of ensuring that the proposed Islington redevelopment as well as the ongoing growth of University Station were both managed to benefit neighborhoods. As Chair, he led the adoption of the town’s master plan. During his tenure, the Board also adopted an open space and recreation plan, an affordable housing plan, and a “complete streets” policy that helped secure grants to build sidewalks. On a regional basis, Atkins co-founded the Charles River Green Coalition (CRGC) in 2019 in response to increasing concerns about climate change. With members in several neighboring communities, CRGC works for climate change education and government action at the local and state levels.

A firm advocate for civic engagement, Atkins started a current events blog and was instrumental in the creation of the town’s cable access television station. “Westwood is a great town because of its schools, its community, and the spirit of volunteerism and shared responsibility. Whether it’s Cub Scouts, youth sports, or taking a day off from work to run a station on field day at Hanlon, residents show up to help. When we tap into that spirit of engagement and when our government is open and honest with residents, we can solve any problem,” said Atkins.

“I will work to deliver real progress on matters of health, safety, and finance: preserving green spaces, promoting clean energy, creating safe walking paths, and improving how information is shared so that residents know where their tax dollars go and why.”

For more information, call David at 781-929-5850 or visit his website at http://daveatkins.org.