My name is John Connolly, & I was born & raised in Canton.

I graduated from Canton High in 1978 & Westfield State

University in 1982. I’ve been serving our town for many years,

first elected to the School Committee in 1983, and later to the

Board of Selectmen in 1989, where I continue to serve. I am

also a proud father of two wonderful daughters, and my

commitment to both my family & our community has always

been a driving force in my life.

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I believe in leadership through actions, not just words.

My parents taught me the importance of respect, honesty,

and integrity—values I carry with me every day. Integrity is

earned, not bought, & it guides my decisions.

 

I’ve had the honor of working with many boards and committees to improve Canton. A major accomplishment was helping the Irish Cultural Center build their new home in Canton. I also brought the Senior Rebate Program to life, allowing seniors to get small tax breaks for volunteering in town.

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I worked with Reebok, Dunkin’ Brands, Computershare, Alfredo Aiello & Trillium Brewery to keep & attract businesses that benefit our town. When Reebok was sold & moved to Boston, I was involved in the negotiation with Point32 Healthcare to take over the space, bringing jobs to Canton & contributing over a million dollars in taxes annually. One of my proudest projects was helping bring Topgolf to Canton, which cleaned up an old site, created hundreds of jobs, & will bring in over a million in taxes yearly.  I’ve recently completed negotiations with Rivian Electric Car Company to open a service center here in Canton at an empty location. I also played a key role in saving & rebuilding the Metropolis rink after its collapse."

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When the Council on Aging needed a new home, I learned that the Knights of Columbus building was going up for sale. I spoke to my fellow selectmen, & we all decided to "go for it" for our seniors. Three years later, it became the new home for our seniors, overseen by the Building Renovations Committee.

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 We’ve renovated important buildings like the Town Hall, the DPW building, the fire department headquarters, and the Elliot School for our police headquarters, ALL under the levy,  to improve services for our community. 

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I’ve always been a strong supporter of our schools. I currently sit on the Canton School Building Committee & work closely with Superintendent Folan & other members of the committee. The new Galvin Middle School will now be built for the children of this town of Canton. I’ve always been accessible and available—either you serve, or you don’t.

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Above all, I’m proud of my support for our public employees, who truly make Canton the great town it is. “We are in this together.”

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I am proud, honored, and humbled to have been involved in my hometown for most of my adult life. Every elected official has to stand on their record, whether they want to or not, and the facts speak for themselves—I’m proud of mine. Thank you for your time.