.png){kind=logo}
Dear Friend and Fellow Residents,
I am running for re-election to the Shrewsbury Select Board!
This is an exciting time for our Town. Our future is mapped out in our first strategic plan,
Shrewsbury 2030, and the vision is the result of work centered around robust community
feedback. The strategic plan takes the guesswork out of understanding what residents truly value and expect from their local leaders. I look forward to fulfilling our vision for Shrewsbury - a vibrant, inclusive community where all can thrive.
I’ve worked hard on your behalf, and I am proud of my contributions. Over the past three years, I’ve worked diligently to guide our Town government through the challenges of the pandemic while improving the way the Town communicates with residents. I have been keenly focused on long-term financial planning, and advocated for investments in public safety, infrastructure, mental health resources, education and improved municipal services.
As I seek a third term, I am asking for your support. Stability and consistency of local leadership is critical to the fiscal stewardship and informed decision making that contributes to the quality of life enjoyed by those who live and work in Shrewsbury. The Select Board has changed rapidly in a short period of time, with three new members joining since I was first elected in 2017 and another new member poised to join the Board this May. If re-elected, I will be the most senior member of the Board.
I have the experience and temperament to continue leading Shrewsbury in a fiscally responsible manner.
• I collaborated with my colleagues, the Town Manager, the School Committee, and the Superintendent of Schools to develop a multi-year solution to the ongoing financial challenges caused by our structural deficit and ensure stable funding for municipal departments and schools.
• As costs continue to rise, I supported expanding tax abatement opportunities for Shrewsbury residents and seek to ensure equity among taxpayers when setting the tax rate and determining appropriate fees, understanding that even minimal increases pose a hardship for some.
I am a problem-solver with a balanced and consistent approach to decision making.
• Clean, reliable drinking water is essential. Working with my colleagues, the Town Manager, and Town staff, a plan was implemented to address water quality issues through a town-wide unidirectional flushing program. Incidents of discolored, sediment-laden water have decreased significantly throughout town.
• I was instrumental in implementing a public comment period before all Select Board business meetings, offering people an opportunity for people to address all 5 Select Board members at once.
• Long-term planning is critical to our success as a community. I participated in the creation of Shrewsbury’s first strategic plan which will guide our progress and decision making for the next several years.
I have demonstrated an ability to lead and work cooperatively with other boards, committees, and individuals in the best interests of the community as a whole.
• In Shrewsbury, we maintain well our public buildings and renovate or replace them when they have surpassed their useful life. I held a leadership role with the ballot committee that earned overwhelming voter approval for the new police station and town-wide public safety radio communication system.
• I collaborated with a local climate advocacy group and other Select Board members to place an article on the May 2022 Annual Town Meeting Warrant to fund Shrewsbury’s first Climate Action Plan.
• When the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force was created, I served as the Select Board’s representative and as a member of the public safety subcommittee. Following a recommendation from the DEI Task Force, I worked to establish a permanent Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee.
I am dedicated to helping the most vulnerable in our community and improving the safety net we can provide.
• As a member of the Shrewsbury Rotary Club, I was part of the team responsible for opening the first community fridge and advocated successfully to locate the fridge just outside the senior center.
• For the past 8 years, I have served as Tournament Director for an annual charity golf tournament benefitting Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services, St. Anne’s Human Services, and the Westborough Food Pantry.
I am committed to doing my part to add value to the community and ensure that Shrewsbury remains an excellent place to live, work, raise a family and retire.
Your support is critical to my re-election effort. From writing an endorsement, to sending emails to friends about why you support me, to placing a sign on your lawn or making a financial contribution, every bit helps and is deeply appreciated.
The best part of my role is the opportunity to meet so many residents. I will always take the time to speak to you by phone or meet with you in person to hear your perspectives and understand what matters most to you. I welcome the opportunity to participate in the special events, ceremonies, celebrations and traditions that take place throughout the year.
Please feel free to contact me at bethcasavant@gmail.com or (508) 641-8174.
Thank you in advance for your consideration.
