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Clean Campaign Based on Facts
Methuen Councilor Ken Willette
(07/03/07)
 I have once again decided to run
for re-election as your Methuen city councilor at large,
with the campaign theme: “Proven Experience that
Works for You!” I have been honored to represent
your interests on the Methuen City Council for the past
four years, and previously with my four years of service
on the Methuen School Committee. I have never hesitated
to question how our city government spends your taxpayer
dollars, and to make sure that all elected and appointed
officials operate in an ethical and honest fashion. I
have always maintained high ethical standards in all of
my dealings, and I will continue to fight to ensure that
all city officials are held accountable for their
actions.
I soon plan on marrying the love of my life, Dawn, and
raising a family in the community that I deeply cherish.
I want to live in a community that I can be proud of,
where we continue to provide an outstanding education,
where we are responsive to taxpayer concerns and customer
service, and where we encourage sensible economic
development and meaningful job growth.
We face many difficult challenges over the next two
years. We will have to address the dire structural
problems at Methuen High School, where the future
accreditation of our flagship learning institution is at
stake and will be dependent on our immediate actions to
secure school building assistance from the state.
The recent accreditation team that reviewed the high
school commended our administration and teachers for
providing a strong learning environment, for instituting
a clearly defined mission statement and for implementing
the necessary tools to promote academic and vocational
success. However, the major red flag of the accreditation
report remains the obsolete and deficient infrastructure
that desperately needs to be totally renovated and
revamped.
By the same token, we will have to address deplorable
conditions at many of our fire stations across the city.
Even with the sizable residential, commercial, retail and
industrial growth that we have experienced in our
community over the past ten years, our dedicated and
highly trained firefighters have met the increased demand
for emergency services, by rapidly and efficiently
responding to all possible crisis scenarios. I applaud
the current task force for studying feasible sites for a
new fire station in the East End of Methuen, to replace
the outdated and insufficient conditions now present at
the East End fire station.
I have worked on many issues over the past two years. I
am pleased to have worked with the Forest Street
neighborhood in successfully defeating a large-scale, 40R
development in that vicinity. In addition, I am proud of
my efforts to question spending by Greater Lawrence
Vocational School officials on publicly funded trips,
which led to real reforms in their travel policy.
I recommended mandatory abutter notification when a
neighborhood dog has been deemed potentially dangerous.
As the co-chair of the “Appoint Mr. Nick”
committee, I am proud to have mobilized the massive
public lobbying effort to have Arthur Nicholson
interviewed and considered as a finalist for
superintendent of schools.
I have also questioned the administration on occasion to
ensure that the Methuen City Council receives all
information and documentation in order to make balanced
and informed decisions.
During all of my years of public service, I have returned
all constituent calls, resolved complicated cases,
reached out to diverse groups and attended as many
meetings and public hearings as possible. I have never
personalized my official statements on the Methuen City
Council, and I have always conducted clean and
informative campaigns. You have my public vow that I will
refuse to engage in negative or destructive attacks in my
mailings, advertisements and during any upcoming debates.
I hope I’ve earned your confidence once again when
you go to the polls in November. Please don’t
hesitate to reach out to me when you have a concern about
government services in Methuen.
Ken Willette is an at-large city councilor in
Methuen. He is seeking reelection in the fall. You can
email him at kennethwillette@comcast.net
*Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com
The July 2007 Edition of
the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly
Publication.
All Contents (C) 2007, Valley Patriot, Inc.
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