Patricia Boyden
I’m running for Select Board because I love Canton.
I have lived in Canton all my life, run a business here,
and volunteered in this town for 25 years. This
community means a lot to me. I bring to the Board
much needed experience and skills to build
consensus and unify Canton. I am known for my work ethic, independent thinking, and vision to be a leader that Canton needs very much right now.
About me: I graduated from Canton High in 1981, then Bridgewater State College with a degree in 1985. My husband Gary and I raised our two children, Anthony and Alexandra, here. I am President of United Stone & Site, a union stone masonry company that I have run for 20 years, while also actively volunteering for many organizations. My husband is in Local 3, bricklayers and allied craftsmen, and my son is in the laborers local 22 (both are in IUOE Local 4). My experience with the building trades and running a business, from financials to workforce management, have paved the way for this next important leadership role: Select Board member.
Giving back to my community has always been core to my character. I have volunteered a lot for 25 years; serving on the Hansen CAPT, as a member and past president of Canton Alliance for Public Education (CAPE), and as a founding member of Sustainable Canton. I was past chair and current vice chair of the Canton Democratic Town Committee and was president of the National Charity League Blue Hills Chapter for two years.
Throughout my decades of working in the community I’ve come to realize what kind of leadership we need to get things done in Canton. I see a clear need for transparency, modernization, and overall unity, as well as fresh thinking that will guide smart decisions and growth. For example:
Transparency — There is need for public transparency following the implementation of the upcoming independent audit of Canton Police Department adherence to procedures. A community is only as strong as the trust we have in our police. I support the Canton police and want to ensure that they can protect and serve with excellence by rebuilding trust with our community members. One thing I would do is schedule the police chief on the agenda for a monthly update about how the department is progressing with implementation of the audit’s findings and recommendations.
Modernization — Many areas of our Town’s government need technology and process advancement. For example, I would support the Town Clerk’s office in moving the local elections to November, so this would not be so onerous on our team of election workers. I would work to ensure that this office has the necessary resources to implement change to ensure greater participation in our local electoral process, including properly funding modern voting technology.
Smart Growth — We need to catch up to other Massachusetts cities and towns with climate-friendly initiatives. I will support and serve actively on numerous town Committees, such as the Master Planning and clean energy choice-related groups. I will also stand with the Planning Board as they work through tweaking plans to present to the state for the MBTA overlay district, the half mile area surrounding the junction and the center. I know our local businesses will thrive with carefully planned and managed growth and I understand that having (and growing the numbers of) these local businesses is essential for keeping our tax rate low.
Unity — This isn’t a buzzword. It’s core to our sense of community. A key value I will bring to the Select Board is inclusion. While some in town may be blowing the racist dog whistle to “Keep Canton Canton,” I know that this community is stronger when all voices are heard and included. This unity and representation spans demographics as well, from our young families to our senior residents to younger workers and professionals. On the Select Board I’ll make sure that I’m listening to all voices and representing all sectors of our community, whether you have lived here your whole life like me, or just moved in, while encouraging civic engagement and participation.
Know that I am a very hard worker who has always stepped up. I am semi-retired with the time to dedicate to the position at this critical time for our town. I will put in the time—preparing and studying agenda items in advance, demonstrating independent thinking while building consensus, and always respecting and listening to residents and businesses.
I’ll be there to do the job and I will do it well.
Thank you. Together, let’s move Canton Forward!
Visit our social media sites: TrishforCanton.com, @TrishforCanton on Instagram & on Facebook at @TrishforCanton
~ Trish
