WILMINGTON, MA — Selectman Candidate Kevin Caira was recently asked the following questions by Wilmington Apple — I’m sure there were questions that you wish were asked at Tuesday’s debate but were not covered due to time constraints. List two or three of these questions and provide your answers.
Below is Caira’s response, in his own words:
There were many pertinent questions asked at the recent debate which, among other things, enabled candidates who were familiar with Wilmington the opportunity to answer questions with specificity as opposed to generic hyperbole. Equally important has been the opportunity to answer questions in this forum (The Wilmington Apple) which has allowed residents to learn more about the candidates.
One question that I would pose is:
What is the best way to evaluate a candidate’s fitness to serve on the Wilmington Board of Selectmen…by what they say or by what they have accomplished?
Certainly a candidate should be judged by a wide range of criteria. I know that I want to vote for someone who is honest, unbiased, independent, and principled. A candidate for Selectman should be experienced in municipal and state government and should be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the town in which he or she hopes to serve. Most importantly, a candidate should have a track record of service that voters can examine and evaluate. As the saying goes: “Actions speak louder than words.”
I believe that over the past three decades I have demonstrated, by action and not just words, my dedication and commitment to Wilmington. Like many of you, I find the time to volunteer in a variety of ways to help keep Wilmington a great community in which to raise a family. Volunteerism is the life-blood of our community; it is what makes Wilmington “tick.”
Like many of you, I belong to local service organizations, I coached youth sports, and I take leadership roles in town committees and associations. Just two weeks ago the town broke ground on the Yentile Farm Recreational Facility. As Vice Chairman of that Committee, I enthusiastically spent hundreds of hours of time, along with an outstanding group of volunteers, to ensure that Wilmington gets a first-rate recreational complex for all of its residents to enjoy. Moreover, I spend time raising private funds to save the town money in my role as Vice Chairman of the (Yentile) Fundraising Committee.
On April 8, 2016, supporters of Wilmington High School student athletes came together to raise funds at the annual Wildcat Athletic Alumni and Friends dinner. I am proud to be a founding member of this organization, its Vice President, and chairman of the annual dinner. Like the other members of the committee, our motivation is to help Wilmington “kids.” None of the committee members have children in the school system; we happily volunteer for the benefit of all Wilmington youth.
I believe the town should elect individuals whose past actions show that they are “in it” for Wilmington. We need elected leaders who are innovative and solution-oriented. Several years ago when funds were unavailable, I worked with the Italian Consulate to secure a grant enabling the high school to reintroduce Italian as a component of its foreign language curriculum. As a volunteer in the Wilmington Recreation Basketball League, I worked with the department to establish and organize a new program for junior and senior high school students who otherwise would not have had the opportunity to continue participating in recreation basketball. It is certainly important to “discuss” the problem, but more important to “solve” them.
What sets Wilmington apart from many surrounding communities is its tremendous and seemingly never ending cadre of volunteers, countless numbers of residents who make our town so special. I am proud to be one of them, and I can assure the residents of Wilmington that regardless of the outcome of this election, I am “sticking around.”
About The Questions
During this local election season, Wilmington Apple will ask a question of all the Selectmen candidates each week. Wilmington Apple will run one response per day, Monday through Thursday, with a recap on Friday. Responses are in the candidates’ own words, unedited. Each candidate is given the same question and the same amount of time (approximately one week) to answer. Order of answers will alternate each week.
About The Election
Four candidates — Greg Bendel, Kevin Caira, Joseph Lavino, and Thomas Miller — will be competing for two open 3-year seats on the Wilmington Board of Selectmen. Longtime incumbents Lou Cimaglia and Mike Newhouse are not seeking re-election. The Town Election will be held on Saturday, April 23. Polls will be open from 8am to 8pm.
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