Letters endorsing Jefferson, Foley, Marr in May 17 Grafton Town Election

READERS! The deadline for candidate endorsement letters is Thursday, May 12 at 5 p.m., mailed to Jennifer@graftoncommon.com. They will run in batches (or until they run out) through Saturday, in the interest of getting letters off the front page of the website by Election Day, May 17 (polls will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Don’t forget to vote! — Jenn

Vandesteen endorses Andy Jefferson for Select Board

Dear Grafton voters, 

It is my intent to endorse Andy Jefferson’s candidacy for Select Board for the town of Grafton. 

I met Andy through the Cub Scout program in Grafton Pack 106. His boys were a bit older than mine, but he made a point to get to know me. Though you meet many parents through this program, Andy treated me like we were old friends instantly. He is approachable and easy to talk to with an overall positive demeanor. Over the years he has donated his time to designing new graphics for the pack which are featured on patches and outdoor gear for the kids. 

Andy is also a good neighbor. When I moved from a condo to a house in North Grafton, understanding I had few outdoor tools, he had given my family an open invitation to “ask him first.” I admit I’ve taken him up on this on more than one occasion. This gesture exemplifies his eagerness to help others without expecting anything in return. 

Through my role as Chair for the Grafton Public Library Board of Trustees, I witnessed Andy’s efforts to advocate on behalf of the Finance committee for the Library budget. He worked with the Library’s director to present a lean budget they could both agree on and helped reduce it by utilizing outside sources of funding for Library programming. Andy has expressed concern for adequate staffing of the Library’s teen space to help support the underserved teen and tween population that now frequent the Library more than before. He aims to a support the Library’s effort to provide a safe space for Grafton’s young people. 

Please join me in supporting Andy Jefferson for Select Board. A model citizen of Grafton.

Aaron Vandesteen, Chair Grafton Public Library Board of Trustees

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Hall endorses Ann Marie Foley for Select Board

Fine, talented people can often be persuaded to take on positions of civic responsibility, which is to be both admired and appreciated. Less often, we encounter people for whom a constant drive to serve the community around them is such an unalterable part of their nature that they have no choice but to act. This is a description of Ann Marie Foley.

I met Ann Marie when she joined Grafton Tennis Club, close to fifteen years ago. As it happens, the role—or roles, I should say—she quickly took on to keep GTC going, make a compelling case for why Grafton is lucky to have her as a candidate for the Select Board, and why Grafton residents would be wise to choose her for the position.

Grafton Tennis Club, founded in 1963, is a hidden gem in our town; many Grafton residents are unaware of it simply because of its out-of-the-way location. It is a small club that is run by its members. The organizational and financial challenges of running such a club are considerable. While members contribute to court business and upkeep as they are able, the club could not exist if it weren’t for a small group of people who take responsibility for specific functions. Still, there has to be someone willing to keep the overall picture in view. This is the kind of oversight only the most community-minded of people will take on, and this is the part Ann Marie has played for a number of years now. Even if she has help, she has, for all intents and purposes, functioned as the Club’s President, Treasurer, and General Director for a number of years now.

Another point I’d like to make is that among the rare people possessed of this natural drive to serve, individuals have their own styles, and those styles tend to affect, or even generate, the dynamic of a working environment and the relationships within it. Differing points of view and conflicts are an inevitable part of any working environment, presenting challenges for all involved. The ability to be effective with grace and diplomacy is a talent all its own, and, I’m pleased to say, it’s one that comes with the Ann Marie Foley for Select Board package.

Shelley Hall

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Carlson family endorses Amy Marr for School Committee

We are reaching out to share our support for Amy Marr in  her re-election bid for Grafton School Committee.

As we are parents of two children who attend Grafton Public Schools, we have seen firsthand how Amy demonstrates her commitment and knowledge of Grafton Schools. Amy’s approach to working with challenging times has shown us her support for students and educators in our community. 

We agree with Amy on several crucial issues that have surfaced in this election.  We are both advocates for student success with investments in social-emotional learning, evolving curricula, and fiscal management that represent our community’s expectations when it comes to public education. Also, we agree with her emphasis on the whole student as a measure of success and not just using standardized testing. 

Amy works well beyond her role, and she continues to dedicate her time by participating in several town committees, including the Capital Improvement Planning Committee and Special Education Parents Advisory Council. We are so fortunate to have someone who can put forth the time and effort we expect from our elected officials to make sound decisions based on experts and community recommendations. 

Please join us on Tuesday, May 17th, and vote to re-elect Amy Marr for School Committee. 

Sincerely,
Wendy & Peter Carlson