Dear Editor:
As local election day draws near, I would like to urge Wilmington residents to vote for Kevin Caira and Greg Bendel in the race for the Board of Selectmen. Together they bring a unique balance of experience, energy and leadership, while they share a remarkable and well established track record of service to their community.
As the current director of municipal retirement system, after having served as top level administrator at the Massachusetts State Retirement System, Kevin Caira is uniquely qualified to step into the role of Selectman seamlessly, having a firm grasp of the budgetary and other challenges facing towns like Wilmington. As a long standing member and former President of the Wilmington Sons of Italy, Kevin has worked tirelessly to bring a myriad of grants to Wilmington residents of all ages, including transportation to support our elderly services department and a grant to support the WHS foreign language program. Kevin’s service as the Vice Chair of the Yentile Farm Committee and as a founding member and Vice President of the Wildcat Athletic Alumni & Friends Committee underscore his leadership skills, his unselfish initiative, and his relentless commitment to the community at large. His commitment to Wilmington athletics in particular, as a young baseball and basketball coach and as a football and softball coach and the high school level, is a “grass roots” effort of which anyone would be proud.
Greg Bendel has likewise distinguished himself as an invaluable, energetic, and dedicated Wilmington volunteer. Despite the demands of serving as an eight year full-time teacher at the Shawsheen Tech High School, where he also serves as the Lead Teacher in the Computer Science Department and Head Varsity Basketball Coach, earning the Commonwealth Athletic Conference 2015 Coach of the Year Honors, Greg has found the time to serve the community in a variety of ways. He has organized several community basketball camps for kids during the summer and school vacations. He is a proud member of the Wilmington Knights of Columbus, as well as an active and loyal supporter of the non-profit Local Heroes, and he committed countless hours working hand-in-hand with fellow residents, advocating and organizing support for a new Wilmington High School as a member of the Wilmington 4.0 Committee.
In order to distinguish themselves from their opponents this election season, I suspect that all four candidates will repeatedly point to “their resume” in order to highlight their credentials. I agree with that approach, because qualifications matter, and from my perspective, the single most important qualification for a Selectman to possess is a deep sense of community spirit and a profound sense of volunteerism. For those who share that view, the choices this year are clear, because Kevin Caira and Greg Bendel have demonstrated those qualities for years. Please join me in supporting them for Selectman.
Mike Newhouse
Like Wilmington Apple on Facebook. Follow Wilmington Apple on Twitter. Subscribe to Wilmington Apple’s daily email newsletter HERE. Got a comment, question, photo, press release, or news tip? Email wilmingtonapple@gmail.com.
Wilmington Apple 