To the editor:

The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) is guided by its Advisory Board which meets quarterly.

Colette joined the board in 2020 and has worked closely with me as Chair of the Advisory Board to revitalize our Audit and Finance Committee, which she now chairs and engages in robust analysis and discussion of the budget. Colette helped the Advisory Board focus on important financial considerations as we used grant funding to support fare-free transit during COVID.

Colette worked with the Administrator to look to the future, and consider funding strategies for sustainable growth. Colette supported MWRTA’s work with the State legislature for fair funding for MWRTA, which resulted in a significant increase in, and stabilization of, funding. Colette has been a very strong voice for Wellesley’s transportation needs, building robust ridership on the Catch Connect—an entirely new service not only for Wellesley but for MWRTA.

In my decades of service as a Selectman and chair of such boards as the MWRTA and the 495 Partnership, I have never worked with a more dedicated public servant than Colette. Wellesley is lucky to have her, and so are we.

Joe Nolan
Chair of the MWRTA Advisory Board

To the editor:

It is with great pleasure that we write in support of Odessa Sanchez, a candidate for Select Board in this year’s election.

Odessa’s commitment to Wellesley is strong and true. Her leadership and contributions to multiple Town committees is a testament to that fact. Once you know who she is, you will recognize her and her welcoming smile everywhere, from town meetings, schools, community events and parades.

What Odessa brings to the table is a voice for the voiceless. She is a champion of the rights of all and especially the most vulnerable in our town, from the “age strong” older generation, to the children in our schools, to the increasingly tax-burdened middle class, and to the often overlooked or disadvantaged sectors of our town.

Odessa will stand up for what is right, and is fearless in doing so. She is a bridge builder and a mediator and listener, who seeks fair, open-minded solutions to the complex problems facing our community during this time of vigorous change in Wellesley. Who else on the Select Board could better understand the challenges faced by those who are under-represented in decision-making that impacts their household unfavorably?

Wellesley is a diverse community, ethnically and economically. It is now time to validate that reality by electing Odessa Sanchez to Wellesley’s Select Board.

Sincerely,

Scott and Svea Fraser
Wellesley residents

To the editor:

I write to endorse the candidacy of Odessa Sanchez for the Wellesley Select Board.

At present, our Select Board is implementing town-wide change on many fronts—notably climate action, DEI initiatives, housing, and transportation.

I believe that our Select Board would benefit from another change over the next three years, and that is the change that Odessa Sanchez would bring to the town’s leadership. Simply put, Odessa’s deep commitment both to our community and to our common humanity would be a major asset to the Select Board. Odessa cares about all the people of Wellesley, and listens to their concerns. Not everyone in Wellesley is in a top income bracket, and Odessa, a resident of Barton Road, understands that. She cares about those who worry about purchasing an electric vehicle and paying increased fuel costs to heat and cool their homes. Odessa knows that there are Wellesley residents who worry about their household budgets while paying higher property taxes. As a mother and coach, Odessa understands the concerns parents have for their children’s future. Moreover, as an African American woman, Odessa understands diversity, equity, and inclusion at a level that few in Wellesley can comprehend.

Odessa’s qualifications include many years of volunteering and public service in Wellesley. Currently, Odessa chairs the Wellesley Housing Authority. She also serves as a Town Meeting Member (Precinct E) as well as on the Historical Commission and the League of Woman Voters nominating committee. She has actively participated on the Town’s DEI task force and civil discourse initiative. Odessa is also active in Wellesley’s Catholic Collaborative and her Barton Road community. Outside of Wellesley, Odessa serves as legislative chair of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. On the home-front, she lovingly shepherds a blended family of seven children, and is a proud new grandmother.

I am voting for Odessa Sanchez because I believe that she has the leadership skills, strength of character, common sense, and compassion that we need in town government. I believe that Odessa would bring these important qualities to the Select Board.

Please join me in voting for Odessa Sanchez for Select Board on March 5th.

Donna Maria Ticchi
Wellesley resident

To the editor:

I enthusiastically support Marjorie Freiman’s candidacy to again serve as a member of the Select Board. In her previous two Select Board terms, three years as chair, and as a member and chair of the Advisory Committee and member of the School Building Committee for Hardy and Hunnewell, Marjorie was highly respected for her insightful analysis of complex issues, thoughtful leadership and ability to keep key initiatives and projects on track. In the next few years our town will continue to grapple with important issues related to Town finances, development and housing production. As an experienced leader, Marjorie Freiman understands the value and wisdom of engaging civilly and productively with members of the community, her colleagues and other Town leaders to develop consensus and make meaningful progress.

Virginia Ferko
Wellesley resident
Former Town Meeting Member, Precinct F
Former Advisory Committee Member and Chair
Former School Building Committee Member

To the editor:

As a group, we have endorsed Colette Aufranc as a candidate in previous elections and we are strongly supporting her candidacy for re-election to the Select Board on March 5th.

The Select Board has broad responsibilities as the chief executive body of the Town. Foremost among those responsibilities is proposing a balanced budget to Annual Town Meeting. As the only accountant serving on the Board, Colette has been an incredible asset when setting budget guidelines, including during the unique period of uncertainty surrounding the COVID pandemic. Colette has been a clear and strong voice in responsible stewardship and management of the Town’s reserves over the past three years. Most recently, Colette led the Board’s critical review and update of key financial policies, helping set fiscal policy and direction for the Board in the years to come and giving clear guidance to current and future Board members.

Our previous endorsement noted Colette’s strong work ethic, tenacity, skill in building relationships, capacity for respectful engagement, and ability to compromise.  We stand by these statements. You need only look at her achievements with the Town’s engagement in transportation and mobility matters. Colette took leadership positions in several regional transportation organizations to raise Wellesley’s concerns, ensuring our town has a strong voice at the table. These accomplishments took hard work, tenacious engagement, relationship building and respectful dialogue. We are confident that, with another term on the Board, Colette will continue to utilize her positions within these regional bodies to advocate effectively for Wellesley.

We enthusiastically and strongly endorse Colette for re-election to the Select Board.

Katherine L. Babson Jr., former Select Board Chair
Ellen F. Gibbs, former Select Board Chair
Jack Morgan, former Select Board Chair
David Murphy, former Select Board Chair
Barbara Searle, former Select Board Chair
Terri Tsagaris, former Select Board Chair

To the editor:

During my nine years on the Select Board, I had the pleasure of working with Marjorie Freiman while she served both on the Select Board and on the Advisory Committee. To these positions, particularly in her capacity as Chair, Marjorie brought an array of critical leadership and communication skills, sense of responsibility, diligence, collegiality and integrity to her work and that of the Boards she represented. She is uniquely qualified and prepared for a return to service on the Select Board.
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Marjorie’s experience and knowledge of town government functions and matters is substantial. She has been instrumental in the planning, review and steering of major town initiatives through multiple stages of community engagement, Board and Town Meeting approval.

Marjorie has been a steady, balancing influence during challenging times and in dealing with controversial issues. She has a deep understanding and appreciation of how Wellesley’s town government works, knows how to navigate its complexities, constructively engage the public, seek consensus around solutions to problems and move matters forward. She has built
effective working relationships with Town staff, board members and community advocates.

Marjorie is a responsive listener, collaborative by nature, who approaches her work with great care, thoughtful and thorough consideration of all points of view. Throughout her years in public service, she has been a model of civility, dedication and commitment to the best interests of the broader community. Wellesley has been well served by Marjorie’s proven leadership.

Please join me in voting to return Marjorie Freiman to the Select Board on March 5th.

Ellen Gibbs
Former (3-term) Select Board Member and Chair
Former 20-year Town Meeting Member