After over a decade of local community activism and business success, and three years as a Selectman, I , Terra Friedrichs, enter my bid for re-election.  I hope you vote for me on March 29^th. I grew up in Acton.  

And as a product of the local schools, I know the importance of an excellent school system.  As a property owner, I understand the absolute need to maintain that excellence.  As a successful, international business person, I understands what is required to find innovative, fiscally responsible solutions.

I want Acton to remain affordable while preserving its small town character and globally recognized schools.  I believe that maintaining the village character of Acton does not mean compromising the important services that the Town offers its residents.  I believes it DOES mean we need to develop creative ways to get more for the taxpayers’money. 

And I believes that my skills in financial management will assist the town in developing solutions to satisfy diverse interest groups.  By learning to balance its spending, I believe that Acton can lessen the burden it is placing on its most vulnerable local citizens. 

I believe in the “three pillars” of sustainability:  economic, environmental, and social.  No one pillar can stand on its own.  As a professional consensus builder, market analyst and strategic planner, I have a history of leveraging my experience to achieve this balance.

I believe in strong community consensus and helped get the Acton 2020 process started, including the community-wide survey, which continues to guide us today.

I helped negotiate the town’s last cable TV license and advocated for the adoption of the Community Preservation Act.  Both of these efforts have brought millions of additional dollars into the town.  I helped start important “green” organizations in town, including the farmer’s market, Green Acton, and the Green Advisory Board.  I helped reinvigorate the Economic Development Committee to help local businesses thrive and to look for new business and position Acton to capture new business tax revenue. 

And I work hard for social causes. Almost everyone in town has seen articles about the nationally recognized organization “Citizen Action Team”, which I co-founded.  The group helps match businesses and community surplus to needs in disaster zones.   To help with this, I co-developed an online “social resources” database (www.citizencommandcenter.org) that helps relief workers find resources for disaster survivors, helps donors find place to donate directly to, and helps survivors navigate the relief process.

I was one of the first in town to promote the concept of “condo-buydown” to meet our social objectives more affordably and more environmentally sensitive by leveraging existing buildings. And I helped increase support for senior tax relief.  I developed innovative “business models” for social services.  

I know the people, the processes, and the finances.  Please help me finish what I started, and vote for me, Terra Friedrichs, on March 29^th.