Candidates for
North Andover Selectmen
Tracy Watson
Watson says she has spent sixteen (16)
years professionally managing virtual
“mini” towns and communities,
“which has afforded me the
opportunity to develop and administer
multi-million dollar operational and
capital budgets while also being
responsible for multi-millions of dollars
in physical assets.”
Watson has managed dozens of employees at
all service and professional levels and
has worked directly with disparate
government agencies as well as private
sector entities. “I have also
spent the last six (6) years as a college
level instructor at the Community and
Professional Development Center for
Northern Essex Community College.”
“I have been active in
numerous community activities and
currently still am. I am an active member
of the town’s Housing Partnership
Committee as well as the School Committee’s
Facilities Review Subcommittee. I
am also a past-appointed member of the N.
Andover Housing Authority. I feel that my
professional experiences as well as my
strong connection to our community will
allow me to bring the right voice capable
of making the right choices to the Board
of Selectmen.
Although there are numerous reasons as to
why I am seeking election to the Board of
Selectmen the most important one I feel
is very simply my son Cameron. My parents
always taught me the value of community
and I want to give that lesson through my
own actions to my son as well.”
Some of the issues Watson addressed
during last week’s debate were:
commercial growth, particularly along the
corridors of Rtes. 125 & 114.
Revital-izing downtown “to make sure
that we strengthen and sustain its role
as the busi-ness, civic, social and
governmental cen-ter of North Andover.”
Building an ap-propriate facility for the
early childhood mandated program.
Planning for a Town Charter Review. And
finally tax classifi-cation that treats
homeowner’s fairly. It is time to
look at all options in this process.
Rick Nardella
Rick Nardella announced his candidacy for
Selectmen saying that, “Account-ability
and strong leadership are required to
resolve many of the issues facing North
Andover and I will provide both while
serving on the Board of Selectmen”.
A long-time resident, Mardella is well
known as Chairman and member of the
Planning Board. “My background is
finance and accounting and I have been a
CFO/Controller of a public company and
several service companies. I possess a
strong management, financial, and systems
background. Documenting, assessing,
and providing adequate controls is my
profession. In a word, “accountability.”
“I am a decision maker, forward
thinking problem solver, dedicated and
committed to any task I undertake,”
he added. Nardella and his wife Mary
reside on Haymeadow Road where they
raised their three daughters, all
graduates of North Andover public
schools. Their children attended the
Kittredge and Franklin, elementary
schools, the Middle School and the High
School.
“Mary and I both appreciated the
edu-cation our children received. I know
that quality communities have quality
schools. As a Selectmen, the best
thing I can do for the N. Andover schools
is help solve our current financial
crisis by increasing planned commercial
development and narrowing the gap between
our revenue and expenses. This will
benefit all town services and help us
recruit a top-notch Superintendent of
Schools.”
Over the last twenty years he has
dedicated much of his free time to the
Town and helped shape the town’s
residential and commercial development
through his eighteen years of continuous
involvement with the Planning Board. As
the current Chairman he notes that,
“We are working on many important
initiatives to increase the town’s
commercial base and provide new sources
of revenue. We encourage good development
and attempt to mitigate the effect of
forced development. One example is the
successful effort to bring smart growth
zoning to the former Lucent property.”
“Demanding and practicing
accountability from one’s self and
others, while making tough decisions
today, will allow us to better deal with
tomorrow’s challenges and make North
Andover a better town,” promised
Nardella.
Nardella works as a Compliance Manager
controlling and mitigating financial
risk. He received a bachelor’s
degree in Management from Suffolk
University.
Joe Smith
Joe Smith has been a resident of North
Andover since 1977. He is a State
Principal Civil Engineer, Director and
Steward with the State Engineer’s
Union (MOSES).
He holds a B.S. in civil engineering from
Lowell Tech University and an A.S. in
civil engineering from Franklin Institute
of Boston.
He has sat on the North Andover Zoning
Board of Appeals and the Zoning Task
Force. His public service includes being
a USA Army Veteran, Commander of the
American Legion, VFW, Knights of
Columbus, St. Michael’s Usher, Choir
and Eucharistic Minister.
He is a member of the N.A. Rotary Club, a
volunteer of the Franklin School’s
5th grade chess club and
treasurer/trustee of Heritage Green
Condos. Joe’s issues include
attracting environmentally friendly
businesses, smart growth planning,
lobbying for a larger return of our tax
dollars, exploring creative solutions for
affordable housing and ensuring equitable
funding for education and special
education.
Don Stewart
Stewart is a former Selectman who served
more than 18 years on the board until he
was deposed two years ago by North
Andover Police Officer Dan Lanen. He then
ran for School Committee last year and
was defeated and is now seeking to return
to the Board of Selectmen. Stewart says
he has only supported one override in the
years he spent on the board and promised
during a recent debate that he will
personally sue the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts to start paying for “unfunded
mandates.” Stewart owns his own
painting business in town and considers
himself a fiscal conservative.
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