Politics & Government

Redistricting a Factor in Why Wayland Selectman Wants to Represent Saxonville

Joseph Nolan briefly announced his bid at a Monday night Board of Selectmen's meeting, but made a more formal announcement Tuesday afternoon.

Joseph Nolan, a third-term Wayland Board of Selectmen member, has announced his intention to run as a Democratic candidate for the 13th Middlesex District seat in the November 2012 Massachusetts house elections.

Nolan, a lifelong resident of Wayland, said the "tipping point" in his decision to run for the seat came with the "substantive redistricting of this seat" by the legislature in November.

The district, which is currently comprised of Wayland, Sudbury and Lincoln, will lose one Wayland precinct and the Town of Lincoln altogether and will pick up a precinct in Framingham and three precincts in Marlborough.

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"Much of the Middlesex 13th is now new to the district," Nolan said in a press release announcing his candidacy. "These new precincts in Saxonville [Framingham] and Marlborough will require an advocate with experience working to serve the needs of large towns and a city, respectively. Furthermore, citizens in precincts in Wayland and the town of Sudbury will need a representative who thoroughly understands the needs of these communities as well."

The 13th Middlesex seat is currently held by Tom Conroy (D-Wayland). Conroy is a candidate in the 2012 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

Find out what's happening in Framinghamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Nolan lives in the Cochituate neighborhood of Wayland in the home in which he grew up. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have three children ages 14, 10 and 6.

His campaign website, Nolan4rep.com, is expected to launch soon.

The complete text of Nolan's announcement is below:

My name is Joseph Nolan and I currently serve on the Board of Selectmen in Wayland.

Over the course of the last several months, I have been encouraged by those closest to me to consider running as a Democratic candidate for the Middlesex 13th State Representative seat in the Massachusetts Legislature.  Today, I have decided, after extended discussions with friends, neighbors, colleagues, and most importantly my family, that I will be a candidate for State Representative this fall.

Many factors influenced my decision to enter this race and a tipping point for me was the substantive redistricting of this seat by the legislature last month.  The 13th Middlesex district was formerly comprised of the towns of Sudbury, Wayland, and Lincoln. The new district consists of three precincts in Wayland, the town of Sudbury, a precinct in Saxonville Village in Framingham, and parts of three precincts in the City of Marlborough.

Much of the Middlesex 13th is now new to the district. These new precincts in Saxonville and Marlborough will require an advocate with experience working to serve the needs of large towns and a city, respectively.  Furthermore, citizens in precincts in Wayland and the town of Sudbury will need a Representative who thoroughly understands the needs of these communities as well. 

My experience over the last 12 years as an elected official in Wayland and my regional service as a former member of the Board of Directors on the (MWRTA) and as current Municipal Vice Chair of the 495 Partnership leave me particularly well suited to serve the needs of the citizens of Marlborough, Sudbury, Saxonville, and Wayland.

In my third term as Selectman in the town of Wayland, I have been continually impressed with our citizens, their intellect and engagement on the issues. Wayland’s citizens have consistently informed me as an elected official when they thought we had it right and when we did not. I know that the citizens in Marlborough, Sudbury, and Saxonville are equally invested in their communities and I look forward to the opportunity to serve their needs.

As a Board member at the MWRTA I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with my counterparts in Marlborough, Framingham, Sudbury, and all 11 MWRTA communities to provide safe, reliable public transportation to those who need it most. I am proud to have done so while improving service and saving those towns precious local resources.

The I-495 Partnership is a collaborative of local businesses and elected officials serving together to advocate for regional projects and public policy with an aim to preserve and create jobs within the region.   My service there has been invaluable for me to better understand the needs of cities and towns that now comprise the 13th Middlesex district.  I know that if elected, my service to our communities will be better for this experience.

My wife Elizabeth and I are blessed to own the home in which I was raised in Cochituate, across the lake from Saxonville.  In this home we raise our three children Ally 14, Ryan 10, and Jamie 6.  I have been privileged to coach their hockey, football, and baseball teams over the years and Elizabeth and I have both served as scout leaders over that time. My mother Mary is a vibrant senior living in The Cochituate Village Apartments and remains a central part of our lives. As such, the needs of seniors are never far from my heart and mind.

In short, I have three generations of commitment to our citizens and the issues that concern them.   Both the small town legacy of elected service and the broad experience of working in cities and towns will allow me to be the most effective State Representative this region can offer. I am deeply invested in the future of our district, for today, tomorrow, and for years to come.

Finally, I sincerely believe that all politics is local, that constituent service is the most important part of the job and that commitment means that I will be there when needed, both in the state house and, most importantly, in our neighborhoods. 

Beginning today, I pledge to work tirelessly to listen to all of the citizens of the new Middlesex 13th so that we can move forward as partners in our common interest. I look forward to hearing all of your concerns as I go door to door seeking your counsel and support. 

I humbly ask for your consideration and your vote and hope to receive the honor to serve the good people of Sudbury, Marlborough, and Saxonville, as I have my neighbors and friends in Wayland over the last decade.

Sincerely yours,

Joseph F. Nolan
Candidate for the Middlesex 13th
State Representative District.

Our website at Nolan4rep.com will be operational in the coming days.


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