It’s time for a change in local leadership
By GuestDear Editor:
It’s time for change. We have the right candidate at the right time.
Canton’s first three-person Board of Selectmen took office in 1797. The first woman, Sheila Cheimets, was elected to the board in 1972. In 2004, the board expanded from three to five seats.
In 1989, the year John Connolly was elected at age 30 to serve on the board, Canton’s population was 18,500. Today — 35 years later — our executive branch (now the Select Board) presides over a $145M operating budget and makes decisions that affect the daily lives of about 24,600 residents.
We have grown 33 percent since Connolly’s inaugural Select Board term and times have changed.
We need leaders who are forward-thinking, able to pivot, and have a vision for the future. We need less “this is how it’s always been done.” We need Susan Harrington, who will bring strengths to the board, including:
Small business and life experience: Susan grew revenues at her award-winning animal hospital by 24x to $2.7M annually in 27 years of ownership. She’s managed financials, served thousands of clients, and mentored/managed 20 professionals.
Work ethic: She’s dedicated 20-plus years to supporting Canton’s students, and today — long after her three children graduated from Canton High — still designs costumes for school productions. She was also president of MusicCounts for 10 years and co-founded the CantonStock event, all while running a business full-time.
Courage and conviction: Susan was among the first “random citizens” in 2023 to bravely voice concerns about police oversight and accountability. She’s committed to listening to residents, has a survey on her website, and considers each response.
Quick study: She’s attended town meetings for decades, actively listened to Select Board meetings, and is a proactive thinker. For example, a supporter of police body-worn cameras, in 2023, she cited a NYT Magazine feature in cautioning the Select Board about planning for how videos will be accessed and preserved.
Independent and nimble: Susan is forward-thinking, always two steps ahead, and able to pivot, such as re-designing how her business operated during COVID. She analyzes info and welcomes more diversity of opinion and discussion across the Select Board.
Advocate for modernization: A member of the Canton Bylaw Modernization Committee, Susan is studying and recommending updates and new systems that bring efficiencies to the town (such as electronic “clicker” voting at town meetings).
As an added bonus, Susan Harrington would be the fifth woman to serve on the board in our 228-year history, and mark the first time two women served concurrently.
Like many residents, I appreciate John Connolly’s long commitment to Canton, but it’s time for change.
Canton is at a crossroads. Who do we want to be as a community in our next chapter? Please join me on April 8 in voting for proactive planning, listening, and accountability. (To vote by mail in 2025, you must apply online at sec.state.ma.us/ele by March 29.)
Liza Colburn
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=131296
Posted by Guest
on Mar 20 2025. Filed under From One Citizen to Another, Opinion.
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