I am enthusiastically endorsing Mark Sandeen’s candidacy for Selectman. I have known Mark for many years as a neighbor and friend. I never cease to be amazed by his seemingly boundless energy and willingness to spend it for the betterment of the town and its citizens.

Others have written about the projects Mark has spearheaded, such as the Solar Array on Hartwell Avenue, all of which have benefited the town in terms of health, use of clean energy and additional revenue or cost savings. I want to mention Mark’s unique approach to such projects that make him the best candidate for Selectman at this critical time. Mark likes to produce win-win-win results. He is able to understand and analyze all sides of an issue, and can find commonality of interest among different factions to create consensus.

Lexington is poised to make one of the largest capital expenditures in a generation—the construction of a new high school. There is nothing like a large expenditure to bring out differences of opinion in town. It will take someone with Mark’s unique skills to build consensus from these differences. But, he can do it. Consider the new Hastings school. Under Mark ‘s leadership, the town will have a new school that will decrease the town’s carbon footprint, provide the healthiest possible environment for students and faculty, while decreasing operating costs and actually producing revenue for the town.

Mark is also concerned about the increasing tax burden on residential property owners. But, Mark has a plan to alleviate this problem as well. He would work with commercial property owners to devise ways to benefit them, while encouraging their increased investment in the town, with the result that they would assume an increased share of the tax burden. Another Win-win-win!

— Florence Koplow

This letter appeared in the Lexington Minuteman on February 21, 2019.

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