Voters Guide
Each year, the League of Women Voters of Sudbury compiles a Voters' Guide for the local election as a service to voters. The Annual Town Election is Monday, March 27. Voters can vote by mail in advance or in person on Election Day. There is no in-person early voting. (See Election FAQs.)
There are 16 candidates running for 13 open positions on the ballot this year, and two ballot questions.
See a Specimen Ballot and the Election Warrant on the town website.
Candidates in contested races are:
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Select Board (1 seat, 3 years): Charles Russo and Radha Raman Gargeya
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Planning Board (1 seat, three years): John D. Riordan, Julie Zelermeyer Perlman
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Goodnow Library Trustee (2 seats, 3 years): Ingrid Mayyasi, Timothy Alan Anderson, Elizabeth Iwasaki
Candidates in uncontested races are:
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Board of Assessors (1 seat, 3 years): Liam Joseph Vesely
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Board of Health (1 seat, three years): Susan Sama
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Park and Recreation Commissioner (1 seat, 3 years): Benjamin Carmel
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Commissioner of Housing Authority (1 seat, 5 years): Frank W. Riepe
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Sudbury School Committee (2 seats, 3 years): Mandy Sim, Nicole Burnard
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Sudbury School Committee (1 seat, 1 year): Sarah Troiano
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Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee (2 seats, three years): Ravi Simon (Sudbury), Lucy Mason Maulsby (Lincoln)
In addition to gathering basic details, the Voters' Guide asks candidates to answer this question:
"What are the first two issues you would address if elected, and how would you address them?"
The candidates were asked to limit their responses to 100 words, and the responses appear as the candidates wrote them.
*** This page will be updated as candidate responses are received, and are presented in alphabetical order by office sought. ***
Liam Vesely
Board of Assessors
NAME: Liam Vesely
ADDRESS: Pokonoket Ave.
OCCUPATION: Attorney
I am running for the position of assessor on the Board of Assessors. My knowledge and experience as an incumbent allow me to consider and decide on assessment matters in accordance with the legal obligations that come with the office. I pledge to listen and act in a fair and thoughtful manner to all Sudbury citizens who come before the Board with their business.
Issues: 1. Keeping Sudbury citizens informed of assessing information, programs and services through our website and outreach services; 2. Ensuring that the Board of Assessors is accessible to those who have business before the Board.
Susan Sama
Board of Health
NAME: Susan R. Sama
ADDRESS: 247 Hudson Road
OCCUPATION: Epidemiologist
OFFICE YOU SEEK: Board of Health
Website and/or Facebook page, if any: N/A
New Health Director: We are in the process of interviewing to hire a new Health Director. I would meet with the new Director regularly to support their transition to Sudbury’s Health Department, as well as providing routine epidemiologic support.
Updating Technology and Regulations: Working with colleagues in the Health Department to continue implementing new technologies such as ViewPermit and resume work to revise some of our regulations that need to be updated.
Elizabeth Iwasaki
Goodnow Library Trustee
NAME: Elizabeth (Lissa) Iwasaki
ADDRESS: 24 Surrey Lane
OCCUPATION: Library Assistant, Weston Public Schools
OFFICE YOU SEEK: Goodnow Library Trustee
Website and/or Facebook page, if any: Lissa Iwasaki for Library Trustee
Libraries are for everyone, and that means equity is essential. Equity for everyone in Sudbury. So our home-bound patrons can still access books and services. And programs are available for children of all ages and abilities. And Sudbury’s changing population is reflected in our collection and programs, like the recent Lunar New Year celebration. I also think protecting our library from challenges is critical. We are naive to think it can only happen elsewhere. Book and activity challenges are happening in Massachusetts right now, and our library should be prepared with policies and strategies to ensure that a single perspective can’t take our wonderful library from us.
Timothy Anderson
Goodnow Library Trustee
NAME: Timothy Anderson
ADDRESS: 19 Raynor Road
OCCUPATION: Computer programmer
OFFICE YOU SEEK: Goodnow Library Trustee
Website and/or Facebook page, if any: www.facebook.com/AndersonForGoodnow
Our library is a place for learning, study, even entertainment—but it is also a center of our community. My first goal is to restore some of that community: the relationship between the library and its Friends organization was and remains fractured. We can and should repair it, by listening, compromising, and putting the library community ahead of personal interests. Second, I want to grow the library community—with more of us as volunteers, as supporters, even as participants at Library Board meetings. We can all benefit from the library, and we can all contribute to its health and growth.
Ingrid Mayyasi
Goodnow Library Trustee
NAME: Ingrid Mayyasi
ADDRESS: 65 Pokonoket Ave.
OCCUPATION: School Librarian
OFFICE YOU SEEK: Goodnow Library Trustee
Website and/or Facebook page, if any:
Website: www.ingrid4sudbury.weebly.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Ingrid4Sudbury
I will prioritize inclusion and outreach to ensure that all members of our community have access to resources and programs they need. I will work to create a welcoming and inclusive space for all and build partnerships with local organizations to bring new and diverse perspectives to our library.
I will also prioritize sustainability, library wide. I will work to promote practices in the library, from reducing waste to supporting environmentally-friendly initiatives. I want to ensure that the library is a hub of educational and environmental resources. The library should become a role model in the area of sustainability.
Ravi Simon
Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee
NAME: Ravi Simon
ADDRESS: 437 Cold Brook Drive, 1-314, Sudbury, MA 01776
OCCUPATION: Legislative Aide, State Representative Carmine Gentile
OFFICE YOU SEEK: Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee
Website and/or Facebook page, if any:
www.ravisimon.com
https://www.facebook.com/people/Ravi-Simon-for-L-S-School-Committee/100088914955090/
My priority will be ensuring a smooth transition for the new incoming Superintendent/Principal and that further decisions, such as a process to separate the Superintendent/Principal positions, are done through a transparent, inclusive process for both Sudbury and Lincoln.
I am also concerned by the over 20% increase in transportation costs in the new bus contract. I feel that the LSSC should be looking at the feasibility of taking over the bus fleet, as Concord-Carlisle and Acton-Boxborough have done.
Lucy Maulsby
Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee
NAME: Lucy Maulsby
ADDRESS: 30 Tower Rd., Lincoln
OCCUPATION: Professor
OFFICE YOU SEEK: Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee
Website and/or Facebook page, if any: NA
I look forward to helping shape the future of LSRH as the school transitions to new leadership at a critical time in the institution’s history. I will also aim to foster an environment of thoughtful, respectful, transparent, and collegial participation and debate within the School Committee. More broadly, I will advocate for the various stake holders–students, parents, faculty, and staff–that are critical to the success of LS; work to maintain the excellence of the many programs that LS supports; and facilitate communication and engagement among Lincoln, Sudbury, and Boston to collaboratively impact the broad LS community.
Julie Zelermyer Perlman
Planning Board
NAME: Julie Zelermyer Perlman
ADDRESS: 4 Blacksmith Dr
OCCUPATION: Corporate Real Estate, Lecturer
OFFICE YOU SEEK: Planning Board
Website and/or Facebook page, if any: N/A
I have enjoyed giving back to the town over the past year as an Associate Member of the Planning Board. I seek to continue serving as a steward for Sudbury’s historic and rural character as the town grows.
Charlie Russo
Select Board
NAME: Charlie Russo
ADDRESS: 30 Juniper Road, Sudbury, MA 01776
OCCUPATION: Proposal Manager
OFFICE YOU SEEK: re-election to Select Board
Website and/or Facebook page, if any: https://www.RussoforSudbury.com
https://www.facebook.com/russoforsudbury/
Overseeing/completing major construction projects – BFRT, Fire Station 2, Fairbank Community Center, Eversource – now underway in Town is critical to improve services to residents and create capacity for new projects. I offer institutional knowledge and a record of success in advancing projects that benefit residents.
Ensuring post-pandemic equity is also crucial, as Covid did not affect everyone equally. This includes supporting resources for students, programming for seniors and children at the new Community Center, and services to vulnerable populations.
Looking ahead, the CWMP and two upcoming rail trails give the opportunity to re-vision Route 20 as a more pleasant commercial area.
Radha Raman Gargeya
Select Board
NAME: Radha Raman Gargeya
ADDRESS: 120 Powder Mill Rd, Sudbury, MA 01776
OCCUPATION: Software Engineer
OFFICE YOU SEEK: Select Board
Website and/or Facebook page, if any:
https://www.radhaforsudbury.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RadhaGargeya
I will build on Sudbury’s strengths to ensure the excellence of our quality of life, public schools, town planning, and economic health. I will do so in an efficient way.
The first two issues are enhancing sustainability, including renewable energy, and following through on long-term capital planning.
I led the high school solar canopy installation as a member and leader of the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee. I led technology upgrades and softball field projects at L-S.
I did this in collaboration and consultation with the community and town officials. I will use that experience to serve the entire town of Sudbury.
Frank W. Riepe
Sudbury Housing Authority
NAME: Frank W. Riepe
ADDRESS: 54 Newbridge Rd.
OCCUPATION: Retired architect
OFFICE YOU SEEK: Commissioner of Housing Authority
Website and/or Facebook page, if any:
Sarah Troiano
Sudbury School Committee
NAME: Sarah Troiano
ADDRESS: 342 Lincoln Road, Sudbury, MA 01776
OCCUPATION: Stay-at-home Mom, current member Sudbury School Committee
OFFICE YOU SEEK: Sudbury School Committee Member (1 year term)
Website and/or Facebook page, if any: Facebook: Sarah for School Committee
It has been an honor to serve on the Sudbury School Committee the last three years. If re-elected, I will collaborate with my fellow Committee members, teachers, and administrators to continue the work of meeting the needs of ALL learners in the District and further advancing our Equity work. Specifically, this would include ensuring we have the financial resources to address the myriad impacts of the pandemic on student mental health and academic outcomes, continuing to review annual benchmarking data on student performance, and funding equity initiatives such as professional development and curriculum review.
Nicole Burnard
Sudbury School Committee
NAME: Nicole Burnard
ADDRESS: 42 Great Lake Drive
OCCUPATION: Manager
OFFICE YOU SEEK: Sudbury School Committee
Website and/or Facebook page, if any: https://nicole4sudbury.weebly.com/
#1 - Sound mental health provides an essential foundation of stability that supports the
formation of friendships and academic success. Our children are struggling to navigate the post pandemic world and their mental health is my top priority. Adding mental and behavioral health staff to further support those in need is crucial and I fully support the need.
#2 - Heroic efforts of students to learn and educators to teach were truly inspiring during Covid however our kids lost essential in person learning. We still have “catch up” work to do and I plan to advocate for the growing needs of our students.
Mandy Sim
Sudbury School Committee
NAME: Mandy Sim
ADDRESS: 11 Mossman Road
OCCUPATION: Business Owner
OFFICE YOU SEEK: Sudbury School Committee, re-election
Website and/or Facebook page, if any:
https://www.facebook.com/MandySimSudbury
It has been an honor to serve on the Sudbury School Committee for the past year and a half. I look forward to continuing to put the needs of our students first and ensure our District is equipped to support our students in this post-pandemic world. I am proud of our current budget that clearly prioritizes the social emotional and mental health of our students while also putting forth new initiatives such as reviewing our Early Childhood Education program. I will continue to support the equity work being done in our Schools and ensure Sudbury remains a top District in the Commonwealth
Ballot Question Information
The Select Board voted Feb. 9 to add two ballot questions to the Monday, March 27, town election ballot:
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Ballot question 1: a $745,460 Proposition 2 ½ override for the Sudbury Public Schools (PreK-8). The Sudbury School Committee requested (p.67) that its override question be on the March 27 ballot.
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Ballot question 2: a capital exclusion of $1,020,000 for the purchase of a fire engine.
The exact language of the ballot questions with brief summaries is on the town website here.
For more information, including recorded forums discussing the questions, please see our Ballot Questions page.