My husband and I have enjoyed getting to know Joe Laurin over the past two years. We share a passion for better governance in Concord, and this shared vision has led us to endorse Joe for Select Board.

Joe’s qualifications  — his education, career, and business experience — while impressive, are not the primary reason we support him. Joe stands out because he is committed to back-to-basics town governance, focusing on priorities and how to achieve them within a fixed budget.

What we appreciate most about Joe is his willingness to ask why. Why have real estate taxes risen significantly, and what’s driving future increases? Why are we prioritizing “nice-to-haves” over essential town services? Why do we have the third-highest utility rates in the state? Why have parking meters sat idle for years? Why is there still no reliable cellphone coverage in Concord Center?

These are the questions Joe is tackling. Concord faces major challenges, particularly in land development. We need a Select Board that thinks pragmatically and seeks opportunities — such as leveraging town-owned land — to generate commercial revenue and ease our rising tax burden.

We encourage you to meet Joe Laurin. He’s a thoughtful, solutions-oriented leader who will be a valuable addition to the Select Board. Please join us in voting for Joe this April.

Whitney  and Andrew Herchek