Meet Lise
I’m pleased to announce my candidacy for the Wellesley Board of Selectmen in the town election on Tuesday, March 5.
For the past five years, I’ve served on the Natural Resources Commission and have represented Precinct E at Town Meeting. I’ve been on the board of Sustainable Wellesley for eight years and on the board of UU Wellesley Hills for four years. Earlier in my career, I was an executive editor at the National Geographic Society. I’ve lived in Wellesley for 25 years with my husband, Tim Fulham (a Wellesley native), and we’ve raised our daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, here.
As the executive branch of town government, the Board of Selectmen serves as primary convener and priority-setter for the town and shapes how we come together as a community to grapple with big issues. We currently face important decisions about the redevelopment of three of our elementary schools, moving forward with the town’s Housing Production Plan, transportation and traffic issues, and the disposition of the North 40.
I’m running for the Board of Selectmen to make Wellesley’s shared decision-making process more inclusive and to strengthen our commitment to livability and sustainability. If elected, my priorities will be to
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Make decision-making more inclusive: The decisions that work best long-term are reached in partnership and dialogue, bringing differing stakeholders and interests to the table early and throughout our process.
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Commit to livability: We have work to do to preserve our town’s quality of life and create a welcoming home for people of different ages, income levels, and backgrounds. This work includes more attainable and appropriate housing and transportation options, managing development, and wisely conserving our natural resources.
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Integrate sustainability: Beyond environmental stewardship, sustainability is an approach that applies to everything we do in town government, from managing our limited resources to making sure our decisions consider both our current needs and tomorrow’s challenges.
I believe that my experience and my commitment to shared decision-making and public engagement will make me a strong addition to the Selectmen.
I respectfully ask for your vote on March 5.
Lise Olney
Windsor Road
