Thank you.I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the voters of Dedham for electing me to the Planning Board, and to my campaign team for making my first campaign a success. I met incredible people, learned things about myself, and strengthened my appreciation for and connection to our great town.
I’m especially grateful to my campaign team and to everyone else who came out to hold signs, make phone calls, and knock doors with us. With such a close margin, it’s clear every vote really does matter, and your work made a difference. I’m also grateful to my family for their unwavering support, encouragement, and the willingness to consider campaign help as ‘family time.’ Through the course of the campaign, I had a number of opportunities to share the stage with George Panagopoulos. Thank you to George for staying focused on the issues and working to help voters get a better understanding of the important work the Planning Board does. I also appreciate the outreach from Planning Board members after the election. I look forward to working with them to ensure our work together on the board meets the needs of all our residents. This was an exciting election season. We had many contested races and the highest turnout we’ve had in years. I want to give a special thanks to all of those who voted for the first time in a town election. Voting locally is the best way to have a say in your community, and I hope you will continue to stay engaged. I hope to see you at Planning Board Meetings and other events, and I encourage you to reach out if there is ever an issue you’d like to discuss. Sincerely, Jessica Porter |
I am a proud Dedham resident. I have lived here for 17 years with my husband, Matthew McGuire, and our kids Emma and Jackson. I devote my time to making Dedham a great town for people of all ages, abilities, income levels, and neighborhoods. I serve on Town Meeting, am an Associate on the Zoning Board of Appeals, and am on the Master Plan Implementation Committee and the Dedham Square Planning Committee.
In those roles, I’ve seen how important planning is for determining our town’s future. Well-planned neighborhoods and commercial areas, access to open space, a variety of housing options, and an ability to get around town safely all contribute to our well-being as Dedham residents. I’m running for Planning Board because we have an opportunity to take Dedham planning to the next level. Too often we’re caught off guard, reacting to zoning changes and questionable building design proposed by developers, rather than being guided by what the community needs and wants. We can do better. If elected, I’ll focus on:
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