Peterson announces candidacy for Select Board in June election

This information published by Reminder Publications on March 21 was submitted to the LongmeadowBuzz blog by Leah Peterson who is running as a candidate for Select Board in the upcoming Longmeadow Annual Town Elections on Tuesday, June 11.

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Leah Peterson

Leah Peterson recently announced candidacy for a seat on the Longmeadow Select Board in the town election to take place on June 11. 

Peterson stated she seeks to represent the multi-generational needs of Longmeadow residents and give back to the community where she grew up. She attended the Longmeadow public schools and was captain of the Longmeadow High School girls track and field team. After college and living abroad, she returned to Longmeadow ten years ago, began working for MassMutual, and received her master of business administration degree from Bay Path University. She currently works as an executive for another financial services firm and her professional experience has been focused on leadership of multi-million dollar technology and business transformations, mergers and acquisitions, and strategy development.  

“I enjoy having a career that exposes me to so many different challenges, I get to collaborate and learn about new viewpoints every day,” Peterson said. She noted she is especially excited about how her work developing environmental stewardship strategies can inform her role on the Select Board and help ensure that the town is climate-conscious in all its decisions. 

As a mom of pre-school aged children, Peterson is vested in many of the issues facing the town. “Last year I was proud to support the Americans with Disabilities Act improvements for our elementary school playgrounds, because in a town like Longmeadow, we should be delivering a world class education and opportunities to thrive for every single one of our children. Looking ahead, my children will attend the new middle school, and as we face enormous decisions about funding, school location and possible consolidation, we need leaders who will be directly impacted by these decisions.”

Peterson’s parents still reside in her childhood home, and she supports policies that will make it more affordable for seniors to remain in Longmeadow. “Many in our community, including my parents, have called Longmeadow home for decades. Living on a fixed income during retirement can pose a challenge for folks who want to stay in the town where they built their lives.”

Peterson added, “Longmeadow is a truly unique community that has so much to offer its residents at every stage of life. I want to preserve the town’s special charm and believe that long-term planning and strategic financial management are essential to maintaining the services we enjoy for future generations. But I also know that we cannot continue to kick the can down the road on important decisions and we need to address our financial situation with honesty and creativity.” 

Beyond the dedication to her town and desire to represent the three-generations of her family who live here, Peterson is motivated to run because she believes we need different voices at the table. If elected, she would be the only woman on the Longmeadow Select Board. “My first job was a paper route delivering copies of The Reminder to the neighborhoods around Glenbrook. There are so many different roles for all of us to play in making our community better. I am excited to step into this new role on the Select Board and give back to the community that made me.”