Vote for Liz O'Donnell
on Saturday April 11
Campaign
Kickoff
Sunday, Feb. 1
3-6 pm
American Legion
155 Eastern Ave., Dedham
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Dedham has had its share of debates lately - about budgets, schools, developments. Some happen over coffee or on the sidelines of a soccer game. Others play out on social media. Too often, they generate more heat than light.
But the most productive debates - the ones that actually move our town forward - happen at Town Meeting. At the center of Town Meeting is the Town Moderator - the person who makes the process work. The Moderator doesn’t take sides or argue policy. They keep debate fair, enforce the rules, and ensure every voice is heard and respected. They also help translate complicated procedures into plain language so Town Meeting Members, and the public, can understand what’s at stake. Without an effective Moderator, Town Meeting can’t do its job.
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Many people don’t think about the Moderator’s role, but it matters now more than ever. Across the country, political division and distrust in government are at all-time highs. In Dedham, many families are concerned about rising taxes, and I understand why. After losing my husband a few years ago and putting two children through college on my own, believe me, I know what a tax increase means for a household.
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These times - rife with economic challenges and sharpened rhetoric - call for fairness, trust, and balance - because that’s how good decisions get made and how local government earns public trust.
All are welcome!
That’s why I’m running for Town Moderator - to keep Dedham’s debates fair, our process sound, and our meetings productive.
The Moderator also appoints the nine members of the Finance and Warrant Committee (FinCom), which reviews Dedham’s finances and makes recommendations to Town Meeting. I’ve served on FinCom for 10 years, working with colleagues who know that the best boards reflect a mix of perspectives, not a single point of view. Together, we’ve weighed what the Town wants against what it can afford, often asking both Town Hall and the School Department to reduce their budget requests.
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After 10 years on FinCom, and 10 before that as a Town Meeting Member, I know how essential it is to run meetings that are open, informed, and grounded in respect. I’ve spent two decades learning the details of our budgets, bylaws, and procedures and I know how to explain them clearly so people feel confident in the decisions we make. That’s the perspective I’ll bring to the Town Moderator role, because when Town Meeting runs well, Dedham runs better.