Thank you for
your support!
Thanks also to Odessa, Kenny, and all of the other candidates who ran for election this year! Our Town is better and stronger for your service!
I offer my sincere congratulations to Kenny on his election to the Select Board. I look forward to working with Kenny to make sure that Wellesley continues to thrive.
It has been a true pleasure getting to know so many over you over the past few months, learning about your experiences in Town, and hearing about your visions for Wellesley. At every step on this path, I have been grateful and moved by the generosity of your support for our campaign and your dedication to our Town.
I would also like to offer special thanks to my campaign committee and all of those who offered their guidance and wisdom, hosted coffees and yard signs, helped spread our message, held signs at polling sites, and honored me with their endorsements.
If you are hosting a sign that our campaign installed, we will pick it up in the next day or two.
Finally, as most importantly, thank you to my family for supporting me on this journey, for encouraging me, and for reminding me about the things in life that truly matter most.
Thanks again!
Michael
Experience And Style Matters
Town Government Experience
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Appointed to the Permanent Building Committee in 2019, chair since 2022.
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Experience on building Hunnewell and Hardy Schools, Town Hall Renovation, Wellesley Middle School building systems.
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Presented on the floor of Annual Town Meeting.
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Strong network of relationships with Town boards and staff through years of hands on experience.
Town Finance Experience
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A firm understanding of the Town's capital financing process.
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Experience working through the Town's procurement process.
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Experience negotiating with consultants, contractors, project proponents.
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Experience making difficult choices to bring all projects in under budget.
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Proven track record of delivering value to taxpayers.
Collaborative Style Record
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Track record of seeking and listening to broad range of viewpoints.
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Experienced in engaging with subject matter experts.
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Skilled in achieving broad consensus.
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Demonstrated ability to achieve practical solutions to complex issues.
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Collaboration with multiple Town boards and Committees.
Straight Talk from Michael on Housing
In these last days of the campaign, a lot of emails are flying around town and, unfortunately, some of those we’ve seen are not accurately representing Michael’s positions on housing. Let’s be clear:
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Michael cares deeply about preserving the character and beauty of our town and its open spaces.
Michael has been consistent in his response to questions about housing and the citizen’s petition (Article 42 on the warrant for Annual Town Meeting) which would change the Zoning Bylaws governing residential incentive overlays (RIOs). Here is what Michael has said:
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It is the Planning Board, not the Select Board, that has jurisdiction over the Town’s Zoning Bylaws, including the bylaw related to RIOs.
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Michael supports reevaluating and revising our Town’s bylaws, including the RIO bylaw, to ensure they are advancing the Town’s interests and meeting the Town’s needs. The best way to accomplish these goals is to engage in a collaborative process that will lead to a consensus on the changes needed.
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Michael believes that the Planning Board and staff are best equipped to engage the public in a discussion about changing the RIO bylaw, rather than relying on a citizen’s petition that provides limited opportunity for public engagement.
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For these reasons, Michael does not support the citizen’s petition which would exclude RIOs from residential districts. We need a holistic approach to evaluating our RIO bylaw through a thoughtful process that results in carefully considered revisions rather than the blunt instrument of a citizen’s petition.
Please send Michael any questions or comments: electmichaeltauer@pobox.com.
Working Together for Wellesley
On the Select Board, I will always seek practical solutions through respectful collaboration. While serving on the Permanent Building Committee, I have repeatedly seen that our Town government best serves our residents when it seeks broad ranges of viewpoints, consults subject-matter experts, and achieves broad consensus whenever possible. Throughout my career, I have excelled at forming constructive relationships based on areas of agreement (however narrow) in order to reach successful outcomes.
Through my service on the Permanent Building Committee, I have gained deep insight into Town finances, the Town’s approach to budgeting for large capital projects, and the Town’s long-term plans for constantly maintaining and enhancing its physical spaces sustainably and with great attention to programmatic need. This service has also afforded me the opportunity to establish trusted and productive relationships with many members of Town government and the Town’s professional staff.
As the Select Board sets financial and strategic priorities and coordinates the annual budget, I will work with others in Town government to ensure that we are coordinated in efficiently and effectively advancing the Town's interests. Our collective best efforts, and respectful collaboration will be essential as we maintain our prudent, sustainable fiscal management while seeking balanced, practical solutions to complicated issues ranging from housing to environmental sustainability to transportation.