ENDORSEMENTS

Committee to Elect Raina McManus


Leslie Hanrahan, Chair

Tim Fulham, Treasurer

John Adams
Katherine Babson
Ken Batts
Jennifer Beachell
Wendy Beck von Peccoz
Amy Benjamin
Carla Fernandez Bloomfield
Mary Bowers
Lindsay Burkhead
Scott Burkhead
Helga Bussema
Kelly Caiazzo
Roopa Chandrasekaren
Mary Ann Cluggish
Peter Cory

Paul Cramer
Paul Criswell
Michelle Foster
Mary Gard
Trish Glass
Jessica Graham
David Grancell
Sue Kenny
Laurel Landers
Sarah Little
Suzy Littlefield
Susan Mosher MacDonald
Thomas MacDonald
Ann Marie McCauley
James McLaren
Sue McKay


Barbara McMahon
Marlene O'Brien
Ellie Perkins
Pamela Posey
Ann Rappaport
Elisa Romano, MD
Rachael Solem
Renee Spencer
Maria Taylor
Phyllis Theermann
Michael Tobin
Susan Wasilauskas
Mark Wolfson
Kathleen Woodward
Susan Zelenko 

ENDORSEMENTS 

Marlene O'Brien
Wellesley Townsman

Vote for Raina McManus for Wellesley NRC

I have worked with Raina McManus, NRC incumbent candidate, on many collaborations with the non-partisan League of Women Voters while serving in the role of president or vice president of our Wellesley and state boards. Even in a town with so many fine volunteer leaders, Raina stands out for her judgment, intellect, preparedness, listening and problem-solving skills, reliability, and good humor.   
 
Why is electing Raina essential for our well-being? Since the NRC board’s decisions directly affect the quality of our water, parks, watershed and conservation areas and trails, they are not just serious but also carry substantial weight, with implications for future decades and generations. Raina appreciates the gravity of the NRC’s responsibilities and grasps the importance of serving the Town as a whole, including senior citizens, young children, and handicapped individuals, and does so with humility and professionalism.  
 
Rather than promoting the specific agenda of vested interests, Raina provides well-reasoned, balanced, stable leadership, and an even temperament. She brings deep knowledge of environmental issues and a rare and welcomed combination of passion for preservation and conservation, excitement for problem-solving and collaboration, and intellectual spark.
 
For these reasons, I heartily encourage you to mark your calendars and take the time to go out to the polls on Tuesday, March 5th and vote for Raina.
 
Thank you.
 
Marlene O’Brien
Glen Road

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Quentin Prideaux
Sustainable Wellesley 

I have worked with Raina over many years on dozens of sustainability programs in Wellesley, small and large. She has always been the most committed, knowledgeable, and positive person to work with. Always willing to do what is necessary to make a positive difference for our Town - protect our health, increase our tree canopy, protect brooks and open water, keep our drinking water free of pesticides and contamination, reach out to the public, take action on gas leaks and more. This is just what I have personally experienced of Raina from a very broad set of responsibilities. I know she will continue to make an excellent NRC Commission member. 
Suzy Littlefield
Wellesley Townsman 

Vote Raina McManus for the NRC on March 5

I’ve worked closely with Raina McManus, a 5-year veteran of Wellesley’s Natural Resources Commission, and consider her one of the best local resources we have. Raina is a passionate champion for our natural environment and knows how to use her broad community experience and strong town relationships to get things done. Her effectiveness in working with other boards and groups on behalf of the NRC yields results but also directly contributes to Wellesley’s reputation for progress and innovation.

NRC has the complex task of maintaining and caring for our natural assets, shaping policy, abiding by laws, and responding to resident concerns, new ideas and initiatives at the state and local level. Every project that the NRC champions and helps find solutions for - funding for girls’ softball field renovations, lighting for basketball courts, care for our ponds and parks, ban of plastic bags at store checkout - involve a deliberative process among many parties where Raina’s experience and judgment has had great impact. 
 
There’s also the other Raina I personally know and value - accessible, appreciative, and quick to respond. Sometimes on my daily dog walk at Boulder Brook Reservation I notice something that needs attention and give her a call. Raina always answers with helpful suggestions, letting me know that she's glad I reached out. She truly cares about our global environment yet spends her time and energy on issues that impact all of us in our local community.

Wellesley is very fortunate to have Raina’s institutional knowledge. The fruit of her work is all around us and many more new initiatives have been seeded and are underway. Please join me in voting for Raina’s re-election to Wellesley NRC on March 5.
 
Suzy Littlefield
Boulder Brook Road
Sue McKay
Wellesley Townsman 

Raina McManus Brings Deep Community Background to NRC 

A passionate, lifelong calling to protect the environment often starts when neighbors bond
to solve a problem.

Almost ten years ago Raina tapped me for Friends of Brookside, where our activism first educated our neighborhood, and then the town, about the importance of caring for our land in order to protect our drinking water. Our activism also educated us about the way our
town government works. Raina’s call to action brought us in front of the Wetlands, Planning, Zoning boards and Town Meeting, as well as town staff, to question, learn and understand.

Through Raina I have become more aware of the effects that we all have on the environment and the importance of doing our share to protect it.

Raina is a hands-on leader with a track record of getting things done. She can be found in Wellesley watering our trees during a drought, testifying at the State House for pesticide reduction, and marching for environmental action in NYC. Patient and thoughtful, she listens
to all sides, focusing on finding solutions for urgent priorities - a healthy environment, clean air, clean water, protection of our trees and open spaces for all to enjoy.

At NRC, I’ve watched Raina work with other boards and staff to move the ball from research and assessment to community consensus and action. Wellesley’s ban on plastic bags, educational forums for residents like Bright Ideas: A Workshop on Smart Outdoor Lighting, and efforts to raise awareness about harmful gas leaks are NRC milestones under her stewardship. Annual clean-ups of our parks and green spaces, installation of the
demonstration pollinator garden at the Police Station, caring for the restored Fuller Brook Park are more examples of Raina’s efforts to promote education and engage our community.

Raina’s passion for our town’s environment, her commitment to working on behalf of all Wellesley residents, and her successful track record as a current member of NRC help make Wellesley a great place to live and are the reasons why I fully endorse her. Please join me in supporting Raina McManus for re-election to the Wellesley Natural Resources Commission.

Sue McKay
Oakland Street
Friends of Brookside
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