2023 Candidate Questionnaire

Amherst Forward is a volunteer-led political action committee (PAC) that tracks town government, reviews candidates for local elected office, and provides important information that residents can use to make decisions in local elections and townwide votes.  Our priorities are:

  • Smart, strategic development to support Town revenue needs while preserving open space, consistent with the Master Plan and informed by the Climate Action, Adaptation and Resilience Plan (CAARP).

  • Equitable, excellent infrastructure that matches our community’s diverse needs and expectations, supports our climate action goals, and leverages innovative funding models and available state and federal funds to reduce our residents’ tax burden. Recent and upcoming projects we support include affordable housing, a new elementary school, a renovated public library, a new DPW building, a fire station in South Amherst, and much improved roads and sidewalks.

  • Civic engagement that encourages the informed, optimistic, and collaborative participation of a wide cross-section of residents in Town decision-making.

  • Thriving public schools with dedicated resources that support sustainable infrastructure,  diverse student and educator needs, high quality and equitable curriculum, and a stable leadership so that our students, staff, and community can thrive. 

Questionnaire Goal: This questionnaire will help determine which candidates for local public office will be endorsed by Amherst Forward. Our final endorsements will be based on candidates’ relevant experience; their views on leading issues identified by Amherst Forward; their ability to demonstrate a positive, informed and collaborative temperament; and how well they understand the role. The answers to these questions will be combined with in-person interviews and publicly available data (such as public voting records and appearances in local media) to inform our final endorsements.

  1. Role

    (Town Council Only) Amherst has a 13-person Town Council that hires and works with a professional Town Manager (and, through the Manager, Town staff). What do you see as the role of a Town Councilor in this system? 

    (School Committee Only) The Amherst School Committee is one of three school committees that hire and work with a professional School Superintendent (and, through the Superintendent, school staff). What do you see as the role of a School Committee member in this system? 

  2. Relevant Experience

    (Incumbent) In addition to serving on the Council/as a School Committee member, what other experiences  - including lived, professional, civic, and volunteer -  shape your approach to serving on the Council/School Committee?

    (New Candidate) What experiences - including lived, professional, civic, and volunteer - will shape your approach to serving on the Council/School Committee?

  3. Collaborative decision-making

    (Town Council) Individual Councilors represent their constituents in decision-making, but to be effective, they need to collaborate to get to a majority. Give an example of when you had to collaborate with others to solve a problem. What lessons learned would you apply as a Town Councilor (or have you applied if you currently serve as a Town Councilor)?

    (School Committee) School Committees reach decisions by majority votes. Give an example of when you had to collaborate with others to solve a problem or make a decision. What lessons learned would you apply as a School Committee Member (or have you applied if you currently serve as a School Committee Member)?

  4. Key town needs

    What do you see as the top 3 key areas the Town needs to make progress in? How would you plan to help progress happen in those areas?

  5. Council accomplishments

    (Town Council Only) What do you see as the biggest accomplishments of the Council in this term? This can include the way the Council functioned, its governance, and/or specific initiatives or needs the Council moved forward. For incumbents, what was your role in that success?

  6. Council shortcomings

    (Town Council Only) Where did the Council fall short this term? How do you think it could have done better?  This can include the way the Council functions, its governance, and/or specific initiatives.

  7. Motivation to serve

    In 500 characters or less, what is your biggest motivation to serve as a Town Councilor/on the School Committee? (500 characters ~ 150 words)