Two of the five candidates running for two open seats on the school committee have never attended annual or special town meeting, according to voting records for school committee and select board candidates released by the Town Clerk’s office Thursday.
Shauna Murray and Lauren Diffenbach are the only candidates running for select board and school committee who did not attend November’s special town meeting where the Town’s legislative body killed a push to build a new Andover High School. The two also missed the December 2022 special town meeting to approve money to fill a budget gap in the West Elementary School construction project.
The only other school committee candidate to miss the West El vote was Christopher Shepley, an AHS senior who was too young to vote at the time.
Murray issued a statement, which is published in its entirety at the bottom of this article, when asked about her voting record by Andover News.
“I understand the potential concern with my attendance, but I would like to urge caution when raising this issue. While Town Meeting attendance is one way to gauge a citizen’s engagement with the town, it should not be the only form of measurement,” Murray said. “Furthermore, if we approach this in a manner that criticizes or shames one’s past participation in voting or Town Meeting, we are effectively telegraphing that there is only one ‘right’ way to be an active and interested member of our town, and we might be limiting future involvement.”
The records also show that Diffenbach has only voted in one local election, in 2011.
“My lack of participation in town politics is something I have been open about. In being open I learned I wasn’t alone. The majority of Andover residents are not attending town meetings which is why the Select Board is looking into more inclusive options,” Diffenbach said in a statement, which is also published in its entirety below this article. “Staying informed and participating in politics feels like a luxury for most parents of young children. As a working mother with young children and little outside support, town politics was not my priority. Caring for my children was my priority, which is what led me here. I wouldn’t be here if things were going well in our school system.”
Statement from school committee candidate Shauna Murray
As many residents know, our town has been discussing the possibility of other forms of citizen participation. Our Select Board candidates were given the opportunity to address this very question at both the Service Club Candidate Forum and the League of Women Voters Candidate Forum. The SB candidates all openly recognized that Town Meeting, while a wonderful and communal form of governance, is increasingly difficult to sustain in a town with an expanding population and heavy with families. This has certainly been my family’s experience as we seek to be active members of the town we have called home for 15 years. Since the birth of our children, we have employed a “divide and conquer” approach to most aspects of our lives, including Town Meeting. I am fortunate to be married to someone who shares my desire to engage as a member of our community, and my husband and I frequently discuss the issues that are important to Andover, most recently the debates surrounding the AHS building plan, the street speed limits, and the Haggetts Pond trail. It is often that he is the one tasked with attending and being our family’s “voice,” while I am home with our daughters. I have to imagine that many families in town are faced with similar challenges and decisions.
I understand the potential concern with my attendance, but I would like to urge caution when raising this issue. While Town Meeting attendance is one way to gauge a citizen’s engagement with the town, it should not be the only form of measurement. Furthermore, if we approach this in a manner that criticizes or shames one’s past participation in voting or Town Meeting, we are effectively telegraphing that there is only one “right” way to be an active and interested member of our town, and we might be limiting future involvement. We often wonder why some seats go unopposed or why there aren’t more candidates entering municipal races; maybe this is the reason. If our citizens want to get involved, but are given the message that this one statistic will hamstring their efforts, we will lose potential voices that could work to improve the lives of everyone in our town.
Lauren Diffenbach’s statement
My lack of participation in town politics is something I have been open about. In being open I learned I wasn’t alone. The majority of Andover residents are not attending town meetings which is why the Select Board is looking into more inclusive options. The majority of residents in my age bracket are not voting in town elections. There is a reason for that. Staying informed and participating in politics feels like a luxury for most parents of young children. As a working mother with young children and little outside support, town politics was not my priority. Caring for my children was my priority, which is what led me here. I wouldn’t be here if things were going well in our school system. I’m here because as an experienced educator I know we can do better, and I know how to make that happen. As a parent, this current model isn’t what I want for my children. I urge residents to visit my website at https://www.electlauren.com and to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. I’m an open book.