I am writing to support Joe Laurin for one of the open Select Board seats this year.

We’ve been neighbors since I moved to Concord in 2019. The Laurin haunted maze is an annual highlight on Halloween nights, and he always has a kind word and a smile when you pass him on one of his walks around the neighborhood.

As I have gotten more involved with town activities over the past year, I have had a chance to catch up with Joe beyond our everyday neighborly conversations and talk about some of the pressing issues in town. He has a deep understanding of major items in front of us, including infrastructure needs, new housing versus commercial development, and the resulting impacts on affordability across a number of demographics.

Joe’s experience working across multiple businesses would bring analytical thinking, mission-driven planning and transparency to Select Board operations. His broad life experience growing up in middle-class America, building a successful career, and long track record of community engagement would bring the ability to view our challenges through multiple perspectives.

At a time when our budget is annually outpacing inflation, many of us are increasingly worried about whether we can afford for Concord to be our forever home. Joe will bring his unique experiences to the table to help us plan and budget responsibly for what is ahead while continuing to shepherd a modern Concord that is a welcome home to all who would become our neighbors.

Joe Laurin is the right person at the right time for a Select Board seat in 2025.

Christopher Johnson