Alderman at Large Richard Haggerty reelection announcement

I am proud and honored to share my reelection announcement for Alderman at Large.

We began this effort four years ago because I believed then, as I do now, that Woburn’s strength is in its people and in its sense of community. 

Our first priority needs to be keeping the city affordable for our families and our seniors.

 My record reflects this dedication to affordability and fiscal discipline.  Despite the fact that our country and our state have suffered from extremely challenging economic times, our city is in the best financial shape in its history.

There is not an accomplishment I am more proud of or a job I take more seriously than the fiscal responsibility I feel I owe to the taxpayers of our city.

Over the last four years we have held the line on spending where we could, cut water and sewer rates, and provided tax relief to our active duty National Guard, military reservists and veterans.

As Alderman at Large, I will continue to emphasize accountability, common sense, and fiscal discipline within city government. I have taken great pride in responding to every concern, every complaint, every issue that you raise and will continue to be as responsive as I possibly can.

Our School System

As someone who has continuously supported our school system, I am committed to making sure our children receive a first-rate education and have the necessary resources to do so.

I still believe our city should continue to move forward with updating its aging elementary schools. I was proud to author the Resolve to take the first steps to build a new Hurld-Wyman elementary school and to vote in favor of the school feasibility study.

For some, when they hear about a new school they think we are just constructing a building. But for the Woburn students who learn there and the teachers who teach there, they know we are opening a door to a better life.  I will continue to support our students, our teachers, and our school department as we strive for academic excellence.

Responsible Growth and Job Creation

Woburn is at its best when both families and businesses are thriving, a community where families can afford to live and businesses can afford to grow.

I have sponsored legislation and worked closely with everyone in government to provide additional economic opportunities for our restaurants and our small businesses. In the coming years, as our economy hopefully rebounds,  I will push harder for the successful redevelopment of our Commerce Way Overlay District and will continue to press for additional parking in our downtown area. 

 Responsible growth and development will offer additional job opportunities for our citizens and additional tax revenue for our city to help keep tax rates low for all of us.

Veterans and military affairs

I am strongly supportive of and passionate about veterans affairs.  I was proud to author the National Guard and Military Reservist Tax Relief Order. 

The Order provides tax relief to active duty members of our military. I promised the voters two years ago that I would get this accomplished and we did.  I authored the order and the City Council passed the measure unanimously. The second program of which I was proud to cast a favorable vote was the Veterans Tax Work Off Program. 

Both of these programs make a real difference in the lives of ordinary people who have performed extraordinary service. 

Public Safety

As Chairman of the Public Safety Committee I have strongly supported our city’s public safety infrastructure. Let me be clear, keeping our neighborhoods safe is the most important thing we do.

We have invested $1.3 million dollars in our police department’s infrastructure by installing a new roof and by building a state of the art 911 communications center.

I am committed to making a similar investment in our fire department and its future. In the immediate future we must have a serious discussion with the public about building a new fire station and creating a capital plan to upgrade our fire apparatus.

We must make sure our public safety officials have the support and resources they need to protect our citizens and themselves. I will continue to support the acquisition of the necessary tools to help keep our people safe.

Seniors

Making sure Woburn is affordable is vitally important to seniors and vitally important for our city as a whole.

We do not need to add taxes to the list of rising bills seniors already have. Increased medical bills, prescription drug bills, and energy costs are high enough. I will make every effort to ensure the community in which they spent their entire lives is as affordable and fiscally responsible as they deserve.

Less energy saves taxpayer money

As Alderman at Large I led the fight on the City Council to achieve Green Community status for Woburn, and I have helped push our city to embrace sustainable policies that use less energy, consume fewer resources, and save taxpayer money.

The distinction as a Green Community has provided our city with the opportunity to receive substantial state grants and we sent a message to the public that we are committed to smart investments and reforms.

I was also proud to support the adoption of the Fuel Efficient Vehicle Policy which encourages our city to use less fuel by purchasing fuel efficient vehicles for municipal use and discarding old, inefficient cars and trucks.

These are the type of smart investments and reforms that I will continue to fight for and that are so important to our city’s long-term success.

Recreation and Open Space

In the past four years I promoted the acquisition of Spence Farm and voted in favor of acquiring the Whispering Hill property. This purchase represented an 82-acre increase in our city’s open space and is a wonderful investment in our community’s future.

I was also pleased to cast a vote in favor of the brand new multi-purpose field being built at Whispering Hill and the rebuilding of several of our city’s parks.

I am very proud to live in a city that recognizes both the importance of living within our means and the value of investing in our future. 

Despite the challenging economic climate and tough times our country has faced, we, as a city, have accomplished much over the last four years, but there is still so much more to do.  

There are more smart investments and reforms we must make, more economic growth to encourage and invite to Woburn, and old roads to pave and potholes to fill.

My intent in running for public service is to do just that: serve the public. It has been my honor and privilege to represent the citizens of Woburn. Together we can continue to make Woburn a better place to live.

Please visit www.haggertyforwoburn.com or www.facebook.com/Rich.M.Haggerty for more information.

BIO

Richard Haggerty is a lifelong Woburn resident and owns a home at 32 Leonard Street. 

Haggerty serves as Public Safety Committee Chairman, Accounts and Audits Committee Chairman, Finance Committee, Ordinance Committee, Special Permits Committee, Liaison to the Recreation Commission and Liaison to the Green Communities Initiative. 

Haggerty is a Woburn High School and University of New Hampshire graduate. 

He also currently serves on the University of New Hampshire Alumni Board, is a member of the Woburn Lodge of Elks and serves on the Woburn Friends of VNA Hospice Care Board.