John's supporters share why they are voting for him!
Letters from supportersLen Diggins, Current Select Board Member
I first met John when he was campaigning in the Select Board race with Joe Curro at a coffee 3 years ago. He came across as warm, knowledgeable, friendly, accessible, and authentic. As I've gotten to know John, I've come to realize just how much he is a kind, considerate, caring, and calm person. He is also confident without the bravado. One can challenge John's thoughts and opinions with security of knowing that he won't get angry or upset. That kind of openness is a sign of a good leader. Indeed, I am very comfortable with John, and that's mainly because he is so calm and approachable. Issues that come before the Select Board often carry an emotional charge, and it's good to have someone like John either at the helm as Chair or just as an example of a good member of the Select Board. Though we may have certain passions and issues of concern, being on the Select Board requires the ability to learn about any number of issues that the town may face. We must see how issues are interrelated and how decisions can have multiple impacts. In my opinion, John's temperament as well as his training as a lawyer allows him to assess the big picture by looking at an issue from all sides. He is then able to determine a course of action while remaining open to the possibility of adjusting the course as his comprehension of the situation changes. To the extent that these are some more traits of a good leader, then again, John is definitely a good leader. To me, John is one of those people that makes Arlington a wonderful place This is his hometown; he grew up here; and like many others, he has always made me feel welcome and a part of the community. I am very happy and proud to have served with John during my first year on the Select Board, and I hope that I have the opportunity to continue doing so. As John has said, "There is more work to do!" That will always be the case, and John has the characteristics that make him a steady and reliable hand on the Select Board. I have great respect for him, and I enjoy collaborating with him. In my heart of hearts, I know that the Select Board will be better if we re-elect John Hurd, and I hope you will join me in giving him one of your two votes! Steve DeCourcey, Current Select Board Member Arlington is fortunate to have three Select Board candidates who care deeply about our community. I write to recommend two of the candidates, John Hurd and Eric Helmuth, for election this year. I have served with John since 2019 and have seen firsthand the valuable contributions he has made to the Select Board. Over the past year, John has done an excellent job leading the board as its chairman. He has run meetings fairly and has been a leader in calling for positive change in our community. Within our subcommittee work together, John listens to residents and offers productive solutions to address their concerns. Finally, as a local business owner and the parent of two children in the Arlington Public Schools, John brings valuable perspectives to our work on the board. I have known Eric since I first met him in 2013 following one of his first presentations regarding the implementation of electronic voting for Town Meeting. What struck me about Eric was his patience in building consensus for changes that many Town Meeting members were at first reluctant to embrace. Following the implementation of a pilot program, Eric led the discussion in Town Meeting for full electronic voting in 2014, and we have never looked back. He has brought the same type of consensus building in his role on the town’s Community Preservation Act Committee. Eric’s approach will be of great benefit to the Select Board and the town. Please join me in voting for John Hurd for re-election and Eric Helmuth for election to the Select Board. Jennifer Goodwin of Winchester Road I am writing to ask for one of your votes for John Hurd for Arlington Select Board on April 10. I met John about 15 years ago, when I was working on one of his dad’s campaigns. At that time John was at Tufts University, playing hockey, and with three youth hockey players in my own home, we had all been following John’s hockey career at Arlington Catholic and at Tufts. I loved that despite his busy college life John was very willing to come home to help his dad and his family. That stayed with me. And, it wouldn’t be the first campaign that John and I worked on together. What I love about John is his deep commitment to Arlington. John is a small-business owner in Arlington. He runs a boutique law firm and, this past year, out of his deep desire to see local businesses survive the pandemic, John advocated on behalf of local restaurants. John’s leadership on behalf of these beleaguered restaurants filled a huge need at a critical time. John is the consummate family man. Aside from being at work or at a Select Board meeting, one always sees John about town with at least one of his sons, Wes or Dylan, in tow. John coaches both of his boys’ Arlington youth hockey teams as well as their baseball teams. From firsthand experience, coaching is an incredible time commitment but also a wonderful way to meet families in town and to really get a pulse on the issues affecting the citizens of Arlington. What’s also important to note is that John is the only candidate for Select Board with children attending Arlington Public Schools. For parents of school aged children, like me, this perspective is particularly important. John’s support of local charities touches me personally. I work at the Arlington Boys & Girls Club (ABGC). Like John, I am also a member of the corporation. I had the pleasure of seeing John every morning either dropping off or picking up Dylan at the ABC Preschool. John’s friendship, support and advice as a parent and as a town leader is invaluable to the staff at the ABGC. I am also president of the Catherine J. Malatesta Foundation. When I asked John for support at our annual fund-raising concert, John was there, no questions asked, doing whatever I needed. John also serves on the Board of Arlington EATS and has volunteered with the Somerville Homeless Coalition and has helped out at the Children’s Room. I have two sons, ages 17 and 19. John is the man I hope my boys turn out to be like. He is a wonderful role model, and I love every opportunity for my boys to interact with John. For them to see a young guy who is a local business owner, leader and devoted family man is rare. John embodies what my husband and I work hard to instill in them and that is why John is the ideal candidate. Please vote to re-elect my friend John Hurd to the Arlington Select Board on April 10. Eileen Farrell Mathews of Hillside Avenue Please Vote Hurd on Saturday, April 10. I have had the privilege of being John’s neighbor for the past seven years, and I couldn’t ask for a better neighbor and friend! John has helped me and my family in many ways over the years, and I value and appreciate his friendship. It has been amazing to watch John grow as a father to his two boys, Wes and Dylan, who attend the Dallin School with my daughter. From teaching them sports to pitching a tent and doing some “backwoods” camping in his backyard, barely a day goes by when John is not outside with his boys. Even in the face of his incredibly packed schedule, John prioritizes his time with his family. John is always willing to drop what he is doing to help out friends and neighbors. One example that I would like to share happened very recently. On a weekday afternoon, my daughter was feeling down on herself after a bad experience on the ski slopes. When John found out, he immediately reached out to me and asked if he could “hire” her, a known young artist, to create some artwork for his upcoming campaign for Select Board. This was a huge, needed confidence boost for her, and her mood changed immediately as she started to prepare for the upcoming project. And, I must say in my unbiased opinion, the work she created was truly amazing and both he and she benefited from the experience. This is just one of many examples I can provide that show just kindness. John is the exact type of person we need leading our town. Please join me in voting for John on Saturday, April 10. Carol Curcio of Newport Street I am writing to strongly urge voters in Arlington to reelect John Hurd to the Select Board on April 10. I have known John both in his professional capacity as a real estate lawyer in Arlington and in his personal capacity, as husband, a father and a friend. In the real estate industry, I can attest to John’s incredible knowledge and expertise of both real estate and zoning matters, and the local Arlington housing market. He is someone that I, and many other real estate professionals, to turn for advice on all things real estate and housing. As a current member of the Select Board, John has a keen understanding of our residents’ vision for housing in town. John has been advocating for increased affordable housing in Arlington long before this became a prevalent issue among local discussion groups. He is the only candidate that can bring this critical expertise as Arlington seeks to update zoning bylaws to increase affordable housing. Personally, John is a person of high integrity who is well respected by his many friends and colleagues. John was educated in Arlington schools, then went on to Tufts University and Suffolk Law School before hanging his shingle here in Arlington Center. John is a true collaborator. Whether it is at work, at a Select Board Meeting, or in life, John treats anyone he encounters with respect. He listens to colleagues and residents, comprehends the request and then takes action to solve the issue presented. In the next term, the Select Board will make many import decisions, ranging from racial equity to affordable housing and sustainability, and supporting our residents and businesses as we transition back to our pre-Covid lives. We need a person with John Hurd’s background, experience and expertise on the Select Board. Please join me in voting for John Hurd on Saturday, April 10. Paul Schlichtman, School Committee Member In our system of town government, the Select Board is unlike municipal boards elsewhere in the nation. It is an administrative board, an executive board, one that has no legislative function but acts as if it is a board of fractional mayors. Historically, town meetings made decisions, and they selected some men (it was the 18th century) to oversee the daily business for the town, hence the name Board of Selectmen. In 1920, when Arlington was home to 18,665 residents, we couldn’t fit every registered voter into Town Hall, so our legislative function moved to a 252-member representative Town Meeting. The task of running a town became too great for a part-time board, and Arlington delegated the day-to-day operations in the hands of a town manager in 1953. The Select Board’s role is to lead the town where it wants to go. Its role is to present explanations and commentary to Town Meeting, and help our citizen legislature to make the best possible decisions for the town. It requires members to work together in concert, sharing the responsibilities of leading the town. We have a five-member board, instead of one mayor, in order to bring different experiences and different constituencies to the table. I know and like all three candidates for the Select Board, and we are fortunate we can’t make a bad choice, but I am convinced the H and H team of Helmuth and Hurd is the best choice for Arlington in this month’s annual town election. Eric Helmuth has the heart and soul of an excellent local official. He embodies the ethic of helping to lead the town where it wants to go, as he led the effort to bring electronic voting to Town Meeting. He brought folks together to amend our bylaws to permit the use of electronic voting, and worked tirelessly to bring the necessary technology to Town Hall. This is not a trivial achievement; it makes all 252 Town Meeting members responsive and accountable to voters. Voters can now study the votes of their representatives and make judgments based on their record, which leads to better decisions. John Hurd is an attorney, with a small practice in Arlington Center. He looks at himself as a small-business owner and has worked to make our business districts viable. He has worked on traffic and parking issues in my Arlington Center neighborhood, building consensus for thoughtful policy that supports a thriving community. He is a Dallin School parent, with a commitment to our schools that included his leadership in funding a new Arlington High School. While he is a young parent, his family has a long record of service to Arlington, which gives him tremendous credibility communicating with long-time residents who made Arlington the welcoming place we have come to love. Meanwhile, the School Committee race is uncontested, but Jane Morgan and Jeff Thielman are good friends and outstanding colleagues. They have earned your vote of confidence. Local elections have the most influence on our day-to-day lives. Election Day is Saturday, April 10. You can find voting information at www.arlingtonma.gov/elections and candidate information on the League of Women Voters’ website, www.lwva.com. Please take the time to learn about the candidates and participate in shaping our town’s future. Cindy Sheridan Curran of Franklin Street Have you Hurd? We need to keep John on the Select Board. When John first ran for the Select Board, I wrote to share my experience with John as a person and a coach to my two sons. I am doing so again, but I also want to share my thoughts based on my more recent connection to John, as a constituent. John has been a respectful, thoughtful member of the Select Board. In the past three years, the board has faced many challenges, some seemingly insurmountable, but John approached each issue with an open mind and open ears. He is an excellent listener, who absorbs the input he receives, then makes the best decision for the town based on both direction from town residents and his own personal experience and expertise. But again, I want to share my own personal experience with John as a parent who was fortunate enough to have John coach my two sons in youth hockey. John brought in-depth knowledge and experience to the coaching position as a skilled hockey player. But what I was most impressed with was John’s positive approach to teaching and coaching the game. He stressed the importance of teamwork, good sportsmanship, and being a good person on and off the ice. However, more than anything, he always reminded his players to have fun, because that is why they play the game. John was an incredible role model for my boys, and I know he continues to be for many children in Arlington as a hockey and baseball coach. These are the qualities I look for in a local elected official. Please cast one of your two votes for John Hurd on April 10. Carol Ryerson-Greeley of Temple Street As a lifelong resident of Arlington, I am writing to express my strong endorsement of John Hurd for reelection to the Select Board. My late husband, Brian Greeley, taught me to look for three things in a good candidate: honesty, integrity and commitment. I have learned over the years to add the qualifications that the candidate must also be responsible, respectful and experienced. John Hurd passes all these tests with flying colors! Knowing John for many years as the son of my good friends Jack and Dale Hurd and now working with him professionally as a local real estate lawyer, I have nothing but the highest admiration for John. His pledge to the town’s fiscal stability with the priorities aimed at helping seniors and school-aged children, addressing affordable housing, increasing diversity, focusing on climate change, transportation and sustainability all are in line with my own priorities. Please join me in voting for John Hurd on Saturday, April 10; a responsible, respectful and experienced man of honesty, integrity and commitment. Joe Keeffe of Eliot Road Please vote for John Hurd for Select Board on Saturday, April 10. As a close family friend, I have known John his entire life and I am so happy that John has chosen to continue his work on the Select Board. Given John’s time constraints as a father of two boys in school and youth sports and a business owner, I find it amazing that John continues to devote so much time to serving on the Select Board. John comes from a long family history of public service to the Town of Arlington. He follows in the footsteps of Franklin Hurd, Frank Hurd and his father, Jack Hurd, all of whom served on the then Board of Selectman. Public service is in his blood. I can remember John when he was 6 years old, walking door to door to drop campaign literature for Frank. I always knew he would one day continue the service to the town, and he has done an amazing job during a challenging three-year term on the board. John grew up in East Arlington and went to the Hardy School, so as a resident of East Arlington, I am particularly happy that John has consistently addressed issues facing our area of town, ranging from traffic concerns of Lake Street to supporting the East Arlington business district to his steadfast opposition to the disastrous proposed Mugar development. He understands the unique concerns that our neighborhood faces and works with colleagues and residents to address those concerns. Please give John one of your two votes on April 10. Stephanie Russell of Renfrew Street As an Arlington resident, an elementary school teacher and parent of three children in Arlington schools, I am asking you to please join me in voting for John Hurd for Select Board on April 10. I have had the pleasure of knowing John for over 25 years and I know that he has the character, experience and work ethic to continue to be an effective advocate for our residents. His collaborative approach to governing allows him to work well with his colleagues and with proponents on both sides of town issues to promote policies that serve all Arlington residents. This is evidenced by the fact that John has been endorsed by all of the Select Board members that he has ever served with who are endorsing candidates in this race. As a teacher and school parent, I am truly grateful that someone like John is on the Select Board, who has a vested interest in the school system; namely, his kindergartner and second grader. While the School Committee oversees school curriculum, the Select Board plays a significant role in ensuring that the schools have sufficient funding to continue to provide a top-notch education to our school children. At this moment in history, with uncertainty in town revenue sources, we need Select Board members like John, who will advocate on behalf of Arlington Schools. Spread the word and vote for Hurd! Courtney Leary of Oakland Avenue I have known John for over five years. Not only is he a great neighbor and friend, I know that in his time as member of the Select Board, he has always made decisions on issues based on what is best for our schools. Whether it comes to fully funding our school curriculum to meet the needs of Arlington’s students or making sure our school facilities support our enrollment and modern learning techniques, John is a board member that the school community can always rely on. As a parent of two school-aged children, I am asking you to please support John’s candidacy ensure that he can build on the accomplishments of the Select Board and to make sure Arlington continues to offer students a top-notch education. Please get out and vote for John Hurd on Saturday, April 10. Greg McCarthy of Addison Street Please vote for John Hurd to continue to bring needed real estate and zoning expertise to the Select Board. I have worked with John professionally for around eight years. As a young real estate professional and investor, I always turned to John for advice on real estate and zoning matters, as I know that I could rely on his expertise. Now, even with years of experience of my own, I still rely on John’s knowledge when making decisions. John is reliable for both small individual matters and larger questions concerning the real estate market and its fluctuations. During his time on the Select Board, I have observed John use his professional expertise to assist his fellow board members make difficult decisions on issues relative to real estate and zoning. As the town continues its efforts to review zoning bylaws to identify ways to create affordable housing, John’s knowledge and experience are indispensable. Please vote to keep attorney John Hurd on the Select Board. Nicole Fecteau, of Farmer’s Circle I have been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to work with John at his law office for five years. During that time, I have observed John not only as a lawyer and real estate expert, but also as a Select Board member, a volunteer, a coach, and, most importantly a father. John excels in all of these capacities. As a lawyer, I see the respect his clients have for his advice on a wide array of legal matters. I also see the immense time John spends working on town issues and interacting with residents, both during and after the workday. I have observed John’s charitable giving, donating both money and free legal services to fundraisers for local organizations, including Arlington EATS, school PTOs and many local youth-sports organizations, to name a few. I have seen the time and energy John devotes to coaching hockey and baseball. He truly cares about the development of his players, both as athletes and individuals. But, without a doubt, John’s most important role is that of father to his two boys. Wes and Dylan are often at the office with John while he juggles all of his other duties. You can see him walking through Arlington Center with one son on his shoulders and the other by his side. He is an amazing father. I know his boys are the center of all of the decisions he makes, both in life and on the Select Board. You cannot find a more well-rounded, experienced candidate for public office than John. Please vote to keep John on the Select Board on Saturday, April 10,. Kim and Mike Cayer of Newport Street We are writing to support Eric Helmuth and John Hurd for the two seats on the Arlington Select Board. Eric and John have both shown a true passion for the Town of Arlington and giving back to their community. As the parents of three young adults who went through the Arlington public school system and longtime residents involved in the community, we are grateful for their commitment to our town. We know Eric not only through his important work as a Town Meeting member and chair of Arlington’s Community Preservation Act, but also as a neighbor. His knowledge of how the town functions, coupled with his commitment to local action on such critical issues as climate change and affordable housing, will be a huge asset to Arlington. Having known John and his family for years, we have been impressed by his time on the Select Board, including his critical work with the Arlington High School rebuild and the override required to make that long-needed project a reality. We know John will continue moving the projects forward that make Arlington the special place that it is. We hope you will join us in casting your votes for Eric and John on April 10 (or before, if there is early voting). |
Quotes from supportersSean Garballey, State Representative:
Dan Dunn, Current Select Board Member & Clarissa Rowe, Former Select Board Member: 
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