Megan O'Connell, Select Board candidate, urges fiscal efficiency to protect Westford schools

Megan O'Connell announced her campaign for one of Westford's three-year Select Board seats and urged voters to back a strategy of fiscal efficiency to preserve local schools and public safety.

"I want my children and your children to be able to live here when they become adults," O'Connell said, identifying family and the quality of Westford Public Schools as central reasons for her run. She said she has six children, four of whom still attend school in town.

O'Connell cited recent reporting and state data in arguing that the town cannot assume a future tax override will pass. She referenced a WCVB-TV story and information on mass.gov, saying the 45-year record for Proposition 2½ overrides shows an overall success rate she summarized as about 42 percent, that the rate rose above 60 percent in the decade beginning around 2015, and that in the last three years it fell again below 50 percent—"now it's 47%," she said. O'Connell used those figures to argue that rising living costs have made overrides harder for voters to support.

She also referenced town leadership's warnings about "structural deficits" and said Westford needs board members who will begin work immediately after the May election to identify efficiencies in town government while still delivering "top quality schools, public safety" and services residents expect.

"Vote for someone that can think outside the box," O'Connell said, describing herself as a candidate with experience proposing efficiency ideas in recent years. She asked listeners to vote for her on May 5.

The statement was delivered without a prepared script; O'Connell said she was watching a timer to keep the remarks within the allotted five minutes. The announcement did not include a detailed policy plan, budget numbers, or endorsements.

Next steps: O'Connell is asking voters to support her in the May 5 election; she did not specify follow-up forums or a campaign schedule in this statement.