INTRODUCTION

Hello and welcome to my home page.  I’m David Watkins and I’m running for a seat on the Wayland Board of Selectmen. I currently serve on the Finance Committee.  I have lived in Wayland for twenty-six years with my wife, Lilly and our four children.  We chose to live here because of the small-town charm, proximity to Boston and fine schools, and we are proud to call Wayland home.

For nine years I have been a volunteer in Wayland, serving for six years on the Finance Committee and before that, for three years, on the Economic Development Committee.  Over that period I gained significant insight into what is good about our town government and what we can do better to meet the financial, legal, and operational issues looming before us.  I am especially concerned about the annual struggle faced by elected decision makers as they juggle the need to represent voters and appease special factions.   I witness the problems that occur every year from choosing sides during the budget process because there is no long-term strategic plan for the town to follow.  Unlike comparable Aaa-rated towns, Wayland does not have a process to:

1. Anticipate needs and timing for expensive capital projects;
2. Systematize their priority;
3. Plan for how and when to fund those projects;
4. Optimize funding alternatives.

The absence of an organized approach means that over the past ten years your municipal taxes increased on average by 30% (and continue on that upward trajectory) while over the same period, total inflation in the United States was only 19%.  We need a better way to thoughtfully manage year-over-year spending increases.

WHY I AM RUNNING

As a member of the Board of Selectmen, I will provide the leadership to proactively:

• Develop a long-range strategic plan with the goal of better managing the outlay of tax dollars while still preserving Wayland’s character, educational superiority, and Town services.
• Drive prudent decision making and oversight
• Bring fresh ideas and practices to implement new cost-saving initiatives

I want what is best for our community – transparency in the operation of government, professional presentation of the facts and issues, and respect for our neighbors.

PROVEN RECORD OF LEADERSHIP

Several years ago, Wayland was saddled with poor budget practices and multiple financial management issues.  I worked collaboratively with the other members of the Finance Committee to correct years of mismanagement that nearly lost the Town its Aaa bond rating.  Our new strategy defined and implemented sound financial practices and Wayland was able retain the coveted Moody’s Aaa rating. See Moody’s Information

ENTREPRENEUR & BUSINESS LEADER

As a business professional with a degree in Finance, I built a $30 million international software company headquartered in Wayland.  I have more than thirty years of solid business experience with the analytical skills and the necessary attention to detail to support the best efforts of the Board of Selectmen.

I know how to work collaboratively and how to negotiate for the adoption of standard evaluation criteria to determine needs across all departments and town functions.  Additionally, I will work with the Town to identify the opportunities that would benefit from professional negotiators when entering into multi-year labor contracts.

We all may want the best for our community but do not always agree on what that is.  As Selectman, I will ensure that my decisions consider all segments of our town population.  I will welcome input from those who are actively involved, listen to those who are outspoken, and reach out to others who remain silent taxpayers.  Informed decision-making in town government demands total transparency in the operation of government.  I will deliver on professional presentations of the facts and issues, open-minded and considerate collaboration, prudent decision-making, and respect for our neighbors.

I am committed to being the leader who will get it done better and I  ask for your vote on Tuesday, March 31.

-Dave