At the Candidate Forum, we were asked the following question:

There is a lot of talk nationally and locally about ‘transparency’ in government. With that in mind, are there any potential conflict of interest issues you may have as an elected official on the Select Board? If so, talk about what they are and how you will resolve them.

As someone who works outside of town and has no business or financial connections in town (other than homeownership), I do not foresee any potential conflict of interest issues that may arise as an elected official on the Select Board. However, I understand the importance of being transparent and avoiding any appearance of impropriety.

If any conflicts of interest do arise during my term, I will fully disclose them to the public and recuse myself from any decision-making processes related to those conflicts, and seek guidance from the state ethics commission or town’s legal counsel to ensure that I am acting in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

One action I will support as a member of the Select Board is to dissolve the Volunteer Advisory Subcommittee. While I agree with the sentiment and intentions that led to the creation of the subcommittee and have no reason to believe there has been any impropriety, the public criticism of some appointments, in my opinion, justify bringing the appointment process and discussions back into the light of the standard Select Board meetings to dispel any appearances of impropriety or conflict of interest.

I believe that transparency is essential in maintaining the public’s trust in government, and I am committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in my role as a Select Board member.