District Candidates for Town Council Share their Hopes for the Town at League of Women Voters Forum

The League of Women Voters–Amherst held a forum for candidates for District Town Councilor   at Amherst Regional High School on October 15. The event was livestreamed and recorded.

The League of Women Voters of Amherst will hold a second candidate forum for at-large Town Councilor and School Committee candidates at the high school next Thursday, October 23 at 6:15 p.m. That forum will also be recorded by Amherst Media.

The moderator was Charlotte McLaughlin of the League of Women Voters of Franklin County. Cathy Schoen (incumbent, District 1) and Pam Rooney (incumbent, District 4) were unable to attend. Candidates from the non-contested race in District 5, Ana Devlin Gauthier and Sam MacLeod, were not invited.

Each candidate was given 90 seconds to answer questions submitted by members of the public. All candidates answered the same questions.  Given the time allotted, only five questions were posed to the candidates, far fewer than had been submitted.

Introductions

District 1 Candidates

Jill Brevik has over 15 years’ experience in the nonprofit sector in revenue generation and financial management for small organizations and project management with organizations through changes. She has replicated programs in new locations. With the anticipated difficult budget year, she said she has the technical experience needed. She is also a community organizer and activist who believes that “success is the knowledge that using our voice and not staying silent, and fighting for what we really care about, is the most important thing we can do right now. And I’m not afraid to fight and speak up for my constituents and for those who are most marginalized.”

Frekke Ette said that he did not have experience before he came to the council, but that he views his role as a citizen as the most important experience needed. He was also a political science professor and currently works in diversity, equity, and inclusion, which has shown him the importance of getting different people to work together on issues.

Vincent O’Connor began a lifetime of activism as a college student at the University of San Francisco, where he became active in the Civil Rights Movement. He has worked on seven town committees in the 50 years he has lived in Amherst.

District 2 Candidates

Amber Cano-Martin cited her work in Central America for changing her perspective on the world. She learned a different culture and returned to the states to earn a masters degree in international education, after which she began a job with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), organizing personal care attendants. She said, “Political change is not about one person. It’s about people coming together to collectively take action and make a difference.”

Jason Dorney currently serves on the Conservation Commission. He is a project manager for a civil engineering firm and is accustomed to working with stakeholders to move projects forward. He is experienced with budgeting. He is also a father with children in the schools. He said that he is “highly invested in the success of the town, and I hope to help create a better town for our children and our children’s children.”

Lynn Griesemer said that at age 21 she taught school in Appalachia, where there were no concepts of special ed or child abuse. She eventually finished her undergraduate and two graduate degrees, including one in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government, and then started a regional nonprofit that served K-12 education in seven states. Ultimately, she became the Executive Director of the Donahue Institute at UMass and Associate Vice President for Economic Development at UMass. She has served as president of the Town Council for all seven years of its existence.

District 3 Candidates

Patrick Drumm introduced himself as a project manager for more than a decade. He stressed his role in collaborating with people and making compromises  to get the tasks at hand done, and said he would make compromises for the betterment of the town.

Heather Hala Lord cited her work with nonprofits, being on the School Committee, working in the schools for 10 years, and growing up in Amherst and being a parent here. She said she has learned a lot being on the Town Council these last two years and is excited to turn that foundational knowledge into having more of an impact . She characterizes herself as a “human being, a therapist, an artist, and an activist.”

George Ryan said he has done public service for the past 20 years, and first became involved with Habitat for Humanity 35 years ago, eventually becoming chairman of the local board of Habitat. He has served on the Town Council for five years and chaired two committees, and has taught for 40 years.

District 4 Candidates

Dillon Maxfield works as a planner in Easthampton. He has served on the Zoning Board of Appeals and is currently on the Board of License Commissioners. He lists being a renter as a special qualification, having to deal with rents that are unsustainable for people who want to continue living in Amherst. He added that in single-family neighborhoods, local residents are being pushed out, and that rentals are too expensive for students as well.

Jennifer Taub began her career as a community organizer and project manager for neighborhood housing services, initially to combat redlining by the insurance industry and financial institutions, and empowering residents to have a voice in their community. She believes strongly in building consensus.

School Funding

All of the candidates advocated for more funding for the schools, although Ryan stressed the declining enrollment and the need to balance the needs of the schools against other town needs. He cited the increase in special education costs and the use of one-time COVID-19 funds for ongoing expenses as some of the reasons for the financial troubles of the schools today. Griesemer spoke of the council’s success in working with the other three towns in the region so that they pay their fair share of the regional school budget, and for speaking for increased funds from the higher education institutions in Amherst.

Ryan, Dorney, and Maxfield advocated for increasing the town’s tax base through building more housing with Maxfield noting that the large buildings downtown are major contributors to the tax base, but acknowledged that they are unsuitable for families. Taub noted that, despite the construction of these large residential buildings, the non-student population has been decreasing.

Cano-Martin and Dorney decried the continued cuts in school programs. Cano-Martin felt there is enough money in the town budget to adequately fund more programs. Lord said that the way the country funds schools is racist, and cited many programs that she and her contemporaries in Amherst benefitted from immensely  that have been discontinued for lack of funding. Drumm also said that more of the town’s budget should be devoted to the schools, noting that Amherst is below the national average in school funding. 

Most candidates called for increased contributions from UMass and Amherst College to help fund the schools in Amherst, although Ette adopted a more cautious tone, saying, “They aren’t saviors” and that they have their own priorities.

Infrastructure

The candidates agreed that roads and sidewalks in Amherst need improvement, despite some recently implemented safety measures, such as a lower speed limit and the creation of school zones. Taub suggested forming a consortium with neighboring towns to make road repair more efficient. Brevik stated that the lack of road safety is a symptom of larger issues. She said that, despite commissions and studies, there are still roundabouts without pedestrian symbols and advocated for strategic placement of signs and speed bumps.

O’Connor wanted more public input into planning road projects. He said the DPW applies for grants but then the town is not necessarily comfortable with the projects that are given grants.  Lord suggested that the PVTA contribute to road repair. Drumm wanted more enforcement of speed limits and clearing snow from more sidewalks and near hydrants. Cano-Martin, Griesemer, and Dorney spoke for more bicycle lanes. Ette felt that denser housing here would reduce the need for people to use cars.

Racial Justice

O’Connor stated that although the council passed some proposals furthering racial justice, there is a lack of enthusiasm to get things done. Ette disagreed, citing the development of a charge for the Reparations Committee, and the formation of the DEI Department and CRESS.

Brevik stated that racial justice needs to be addressed at all levels. She was concerned about the underutilization of CRESS and the need to determine why. She said that underutilization does not mean there is no need for the service. Cano-Martin supported DEI training for the Town Council and all municipal staff. Taub wanted more staff for CRESS to provide 24/7 coverage; it is only open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, when most of the need is later in the day and on weekends.  Dorney also supports CRESS. He thought the reparations fund should be fully funded, perhaps helped by  a contribution from Amherst College, which has historically benefitted from slavery. He also advocated for diverse housing choices, with more home ownership opportunities. Drumm also wanted earlier funding and disbursement of the reparations fund.

Maxifield and Lord worried about possible ICE  officers in the town and wanted the town to be prepared. Lord mentioned bystander training. Griesemer said the Town Council is planning to meet with the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee (CSSJC) on November 3, and Lord noted that this is finally happening in the twenty-third month of the council’s two-year term.

Charter Review

Cano-Martin and Brevik cited the detailed recommendations offered by the League of Women Voters of Amherst’s comprehensive charter review in 2024. They were less sanguine about the current Charter Review Committee (CRC), which recently made critical decisions at a retreat that was not recorded and no minutes were taken

Ryan said he was frustrated with the Charter Review Committee that has not produced any reports, despite their timetable indicating preliminary reports were due in April and June. Brevik said that ultimately, leaders are responsible, and that the Town Council should have requested the reports. Griesemer noted that the Council gave the committee an extension.

Maxfield said he preferred the Town Meeting form of government over what we have, but that if we must have a Council, he would want an elected mayor. Lord, Brevik, Drumm, and Cano-Martin also spoke for having an elected mayor and not giving so much power to the Town Manager. Taub wanted term limits for Town Councilors.

Closing Statements

The moderator read the statements submitted by Schoen and Rooney.

Schoen wrote, “I am running for reelection to use my skills as an economist to address Amherst’s fiscal and growth challenges. My top priorities include: support the new elementary school opening in 2026, prioritize spending on schools and essential services, repair roads, ensure that development enhances our community, protects open space and farms and addresses climate change, and responds to North Amherst concerns. We face difficult choices. I will seek to forge consensus with financial accountability. Trained as an economist, I have over 45 years’ experience working on public concerns. As chair of the Elementary School Building, Finance, and Joint Capital Planning committees, I have knowledge to build on. If re-elected, I commit to listen and be a strong, independent voice for District 1 and all of Amherst.”

Rooney’s statement reads, “Please vote for Pam Rooney for District 4. I am a staunch advocate for the well-being of District 4 residents. I support sensible zoning like the University Drive overlay as a reasonable location for higher density housing, and support keeping a limit of four unrelated people to live in a home. As a co-sponsor of a stronger rental registration program, we now have a mandatory periodic inspection of all rental units to improve health and safety conditions. Our nuisance property bylaw was also strengthened to engage owners and property managers earlier in the nuisance correction process. Both will benefit neighbors. I will work to obtain equitable payment from state lands and infrastructure, and I will work on rent stabilization, as well as the opportunity for tax relief for owner-occupied properties.”

The following were the 60-second closing statements of the other candidates:

Jennifer Taub said, “I believe Amherst is at an inflection point with our long-term residents accounting for a third or less of our town’s population, the council must adopt and implement policies that actively work to reverse the trend of declining non-student population. Just this year, the state of Massachusetts implemented its by-right accessory dwelling unit legislation. The statewide law will increase housing density without Amherst having to make any changes to our local zoning bylaws. The ability to build these ADUs is a wonderful way to produce much needed housing without Amherst having to make any changes to our local zoning bylaws. However, because Amherst is a university town, it is fair to assume that many, if not most of these accessory units will be built to serve the off-campus student housing market. For this reason, it is imperative that any additional changes to our local zoning bylaws be crafted to incentivize new construction designed and priced not just for students, but for our year-round community of families, retirees, and the local workforce.”

Dillon Maxfield stated, “Yes, I agree with the problems entirely as Jennifer sees them. Two-thirds of our population are students. That’s putting a lot of pressure onto our neighborhoods and it’s making it very, very expensive to live here. Where I think I disagree in approach is that we build housing that’s not attractive to students. We’re not doing that. We are building housing that’s attractive to students because all housing is going to be attractive to students because there’s such a high demand. I’ve been speaking to students. They don’t particularly want to live in the studios or the one-bedrooms that are $2,200 [per month] on East Pleasant. They end up there because it’s the only place they could find. So all housing is being taken up by students because we’re not providing housing that would be attractive to them. I think we could provide housing that would be attractive to students where we would want them in town, where they could afford it. That would take the pressure off of our neighborhoods to make it so there isn’t such an incentive for developers to buy our single-family homes, convert them into dwelling units with an accessory dwelling unit for eight people generating $8,000 a month. I think we address that by addressing the core issue, which is student housing.”

George Ryan said, “I’ve served District 3 for five years and I’m proud of my service, and I’m eager to go back. If re-elected, I will use my experience to focus on the specific needs of District 3 residents and, in particular, issues that concern their quality of life. I want the residents of my district to believe that the government works for them. I believe, as a district councilor, I have an obligation to listen. Throughout my five years on the council, I’ve conducted regular district meetings, and I always make myself available to residents to hear their concerns. I also have an obligation to inform. I’ve sent out a monthly newsletter whose purpose is to keep residents in the know. Right now, it’s Issue 83. I have over 430 subscribers. And finally, I have an obligation simply to make decisions on the best information I have in the long-term interests of the residents and our community.”

Heather Hala Lord stated, “It has been my honor to represent District 3 on the Town Council for the past two years. Thank you for the opportunity to work together this term. I’m running for re-election because our work is far from done. The priorities I embrace come from so many of you and are rooted in equity, affordable housing, climate justice, quality infrastructure, uplifting our youth, and serving our elders. I’m here to listen and to lead from a heart-centered and human-centered approach. My commitment is to earn and sustain your trust through transparency, accountability, compassion, and a deep respect for all members of our community. The people who call Amherst home are what makes this town wonderful. And together, we can make it a better version of itself. So if you live in District 3, I would be honored to have your vote and to continue this journey with you.”

Patrick Drumm’s statement was, “I have been in Amherst for a total of 12 years now. We moved back five years ago to raise our family. We’re proud to have our kids in the school district, and really hoping to bring some transparency to our town government, not just in terms of outreach, but also in terms of bringing some sort of process from start to finish to our town decisions. I think a lot of decisions are made with not necessarily a whole lot of insight into the future of these bylaws being passed, whether it is in regard to funding or just impacts to other folks in the community. And that’s really what I’m running on. If you’re in District 3, I would love your vote.”

Lynn Griesemer said, “I’ve said this many times: councils don’t just operate, they have to work. I’ve worked hard on behalf of my neighbors and the whole community to make progress towards our goals. And it starts with residents and then it stretches out to the communities around us and advocating at the state. I want you to think about what Amherst has accomplished: a new school going up, a new library going up, renovations at the senior center. We still need to, however, build our DPW and our fire and EMS station, and we need to make sure that, in the process, we continue to protect our environment and our water supply, etc. We also need to balance our budgets with strong schools and government. So, as we go forward, we continue to seed affordable housing and to protect our greatly improved recreation spaces, as well as to look for opportunities for additional tax revenue, such as the overlay on University Drive.”

Amber Cano-Martin’s statement was, “I just want to take a moment to address the moment that we’re in. A lot of us come in here with really heavy hearts about the national political situation sliding into fascism and authoritarianism. Maybe it’s hard to keep your mind on the local, but I just want to remind folks that the local is more important than ever, because we can protect each other. We can take care of each other. We can protect our neighbors who are targeted by the Trump administration: immigrants, people of color, queer folks, workers. And we can come up with local alternatives and strategies and policies that are rooted in solidarity in the common good. It requires people who are dedicated to that. People who understand that real change comes through organizing activism and collective action, and who are able to get people involved, as well as people on the council who are willing to fight for the things that reflect our values, such as fully funded schools, affordable housing, roads, racial justice, and climate change, which are all priorities of my campaign. And I think that this Town Council, while often saying it’s a priority, has not acted.”

Jason Dorney said, “Amherst is a fantastic place to live for some people. I would like to see it be a fantastic place to live for everybody. I think that we need to address housing, and in doing so, address diverse options in housing so that we are giving everybody an opportunity to live in a town like this. We also need to utilize housing and a larger tax base to increase our town’s revenues so that we do have the funding to pay for all of the good things that we want to do here. We have a lot of ambition, and I think there’s so much we can do. There’s so much potential in this town, but we have to make commitments to spend the money and to fund the things that actually allow us to live the values that we profess to have.”

Vince O’Connor’s statement: “If you want our roads repaired, our schools funded properly, our rents stabilized or reduced, rather than being driven up by new luxury priced housing, and oppose the Montague Road sprawl proposal, cast one of your two votes for District 1 councilor for me and the other for Jill Brevik, a younger political activist with children in our public schools and the energy to make changes at the council. Finally, please vote for Ellisha Walker and Allegra Clark for two of the three at-large seats. Both are regional school graduates with children in our public schools.”

Frekke Ette stated, “I arrived in Amherst right when COVID hit and the place was empty. But I got to meet people who were so friendly. They’ve kept me here until now. My vision is that we can be that neighborly to everyone in town. My vision is that we will have better roads, safer sidewalks. That we will be a town that cares about diversity, not just in speech, but in action. And that we’ll be a town that actually takes care of the environment. If you resonate with that vision, then vote for me.”

Finally, Jill Brevik said, “I’m running for office because the residents of Amherst deserve leaders who bring strong, well-informed strategies and who know how to create a positive and engaging culture on the council. At my core, I’m a community organizer, a creative problem-solver, a parent and advocate for public education, and a champion of land conservation balanced with smart, evidence-informed housing policy. I’m a fierce advocate who fights with integrity—not just when it’s easy or convenient, but every day, especially when it means giving up my own comfort or privilege. I’ve spent almost two decades working in nonprofits that serve historically excluded communities. If elected, I will use my platform to amplify the diverse voices of our residents and stand up against systemic oppression and the erosion of democracy here and on the state and national levels. I’m a numbers person and a words person; I can budget for high impact programming with limited resources and write a killer proposal, but I’m also a poet, a listener, and a connector. I love a good chat, which to be honest, has slowed down my canvassing, but the conversations I’ve had at the doors are the reason I’m doing this at all. If you feel like the status quo is not working, and it’s time to try something new, if you want a councilor who will get things done—not for my own self-interest, but for all of us— and who will lead with both practicality and heart, I would be honored to have your vote.”