LETTER: Joe Maselli Endorses Gary DePalma & Sivakumar Mallaiyasamy For Select Board, Both Will Deliver Trustworthy & Responsible Leadership

Wilmington Residents,

With the town election right around the corner, some of us may reflect on how these races have seen very low turnout. Despite this reality, the importance of our town’s annual election is not diminished. Each registered voter has one vote to help shape the direction of our town’s trajectory.

I hope you can join me in raising the turnout this year and joining me in electing two residents who will deliver responsible and trustworthy leadership, as Wilmington enters a period of exciting opportunities and potential challenges:

Gary DePalma continues to champion a forward-looking vision for Wilmington. In doing so, he has been a strong advocate for education, particularly as a leader in support of the Pre-K through Grade 5 elementary school project, which passed overwhelmingly last fall. He has also supported key Economic Development Committee initiatives, including the passage of the new Alcohol Rules and Regulations earlier this year—an important step in helping existing businesses grow while attracting new ones. In my conversations with Gary, it’s clear he is thinking ahead to the major capital projects our town will face in the next 5 to 10 years, while also focusing on strengthening our business community and serving as an honest, straightforward leader. Gary leads by logic, context, and data—not emotion and hyperbole.

Sivakumar “Siva” Mallaiyasamy will bring a fresh perspective and a surge of energy to the Select Board. His background in engineering and business aligns with what Wilmington needs as our world becomes more digitized and fast-paced. Although we don’t fully align on potential next steps for addressing the MBTA Communities Act, we’ve found strong agreement on key priorities, such as addressing existing barriers to sustainable economic development. On that note, I find Siva’s plans for economic development to be the most detailed out of all the candidates running. He also understands the importance of addressing housing challenges, particularly for our senior population. Siva may be new to Wilmington’s political universe, but I find qualities in him that are critical for a great leader to succeed—an ability to listen intently, respect diverse viewpoints, propose honest solutions, and hold others accountable. In a time of increasing divisiveness on the local, state, and national levels, these are qualities we should expect and observe from our leaders.

No matter the outcome, I look forward to continuing to work with our elected officials and volunteers to help make Wilmington a town full of opportunity and sustainable growth.

Respectfully yours,
Joe Maselli