Shelly Maynard-DeWolf for Longmeadow Select Board

This information was submitted to the LongmeadowBuzz blog by Shelly Maynard-DeWolf who is a candidate for one of the two seats on the Longmeadow Select Board.

I’m Shelly Maynard-DeWolf, a proud Longmeadow resident of 16 years, and I’m running for Select Board because I believe in the power of thoughtful leadership, transparent communication, and an engaged community.

My husband Damian and I have raised our two sons, Aiden and Carter, right here in town - enjoying everything from the schools and parks to the close-knit neighborhood feel that makes Longmeadow so special. Like many of you, I want to see our town continue to thrive for the next generation. I am an advocate for driving inclusive, transparent change in high impact areas such as fiscal management, community inclusivity, environmental conservation, public safety and education.  

Professionally, I’ve built a career at the intersection of public service and financial leadership. I spent over a decade working for the City of Springfield - serving on the Conservation Commission, in the Finance Department, and as Chair of the Taxi Commission - where I gained a deep understanding of municipal operations working side by side with a state appointed control board, the Mayor, City Council and various Departments. During that time, I also earned my law degree, which strengthened my ability to navigate complex policy and regulatory challenges. 

Today, I serve as Vice President of Participant Transactions at Empower, where I lead high-performing global teams and help shape long-term strategic plans. I also lead Empower’s National Women’s Empowerment Group, a role that reflects my passion for elevating voices and driving inclusive leadership. Whether it’s managing budgets, protecting our environment, or fostering a more inclusive and engaged community, I believe meaningful change starts with transparency and collaboration.

Why I’m Running for Select Board

I’m running for Select Board because I care deeply about this community - and I know we can do better when it comes to how we communicate, plan, and involve our residents. Longmeadow is full of talented, thoughtful people, but too often, they’re left out of the decision-making process or don’t know how to get involved.

My focus will be on:

• Improving communication so residents are informed and engaged before - not after - decisions are made

• Establishing a long-term financial planning strategy that reflects our priorities and prepares us for the future 

• Creating clearer pathways for community involvement, ensuring town boards better reflect the people they serve

I’m not just a candidate - I’m a mother, a neighbor, and a problem-solver who wants to give back. I’d be honored to have your vote on June 3rd.

What I Bring to the Table

Here’s a snapshot of the experience and skills I bring to the role:

• 10+ years in Springfield city government, including roles in:
  • The Conservation Commission
  •  The Finance Department during the city’s Finance Control Board
  •  Chairing the Taxi Commission
  • A law degree earned while working full-time
  • 17 years in financial services industry
    

• A current leadership role managing global teams at Empower

• Strategic planning expertise, cross-functional collaboration skills, and a high bias for action 

• A deep commitment to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and inclusive leadership

Top Challenges - and How I’ll Address Them

1. Communication Gaps

We need a modern, multi-channel communication strategy that ensures timely and consistent updates about town meetings, decisions, and opportunities to get involved.

2. Lack of Transparent, Proactive Information Sharing

I’ll push for tools and practices that make our governance more accessible - from simplified budget updates to clearer public notices - so every resident feels informed and enabled to be involved. Additionally, I will look to improve our strategy deployment practices to ensure each area is aligned to our short, mid, and long term objectives.

3. Limited Community Engagement

I want to demystify the process of getting involved in town government. That means raising awareness about open positions, making it easier to volunteer, and ensuring our boards and committees reflect the full diversity of our community.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me and my vision for Longmeadow.  I’d be grateful for your vote on June 3. You can cast your ballot at the Longmeadow Community House between 7 AM and 8 PM.

 

 

Shelly Maynard-DeWolf

Joel Illouz is running for one of the two 3 year seats on the Longmeadow School Committee

This information was submitted to the LongmeadowBuzz blog by Joel Illouz who is a candidate for one of the two- 3 year seats on the Longmeadow School Committee.

My name is Joel Illouz, and I’m running for a seat on the Longmeadow School Committee. I am doing so because I truly love Longmeadow. I was raised here, and went to the public schools here. In doing so I made lifelong friends and unforgettable memories, it also prepared me to leave the nest and go to college to find my independence. I wanted that for my children as well, so we knew Longmeadow was the place. Unfortunately, in this ever evolving world, I feel as though we are lagging behind. I believe our community is standing on the shoulders of past success—but not building on it. We must confront today’s challenges with urgency, transparency, and a fresh perspective if we want to restore the reputation and excellence that once defined our school system.

For years, Longmeadow was a magnet for families, professionals, and especially physicians who valued strong schools and a supportive town culture. Today, we are watching that reputation quietly erode. Talented families are choosing neighboring towns like Hampden and Wilbraham, which directly impacts not only our school enrollment but also our home values and broader community appeal.  

Even more concerning: I’m hearing from families whose children—despite strong academic records and straight A’s—are being turned away from UMass Amherst and other competitive schools. These outcomes raise serious questions about how we’re preparing our students, how we’re advocating for them, and whether we’re focused on the right priorities.

My first goal is to continue to listen to parents, educators, school committee members and students. I want to hear directly from the families of Longmeadow: What are your biggest concerns? Where are we falling short? What does success look like to you? And most importantly, What do you need?  

I will work to ensure our district leadership is accountable—both to families and to results. When problems arise, we need clear answers and fast action. I will challenge complacency and push for performance across the board. To improve we must tackle shortcomings head on, and not sweep it under the rug.  

Great schools require great educators. And we have so so many! I’ll work to ensure teachers have the support, professional development, and resources they need to meet high expectations and inspire student success. I feel that with all of these standardized tests, it must be hard for teachers to teach how they want. Uniqueness makes great teachers, do they have the flexibility to be unique?  

Strong schools mean strong property values and a vibrant town. By focusing on academic quality and responsiveness, we can attract new families, retain our top talent, and secure Longmeadow’s future.  

This campaign is not about politics—it’s about priorities. It’s about making sure Longmeadow lives up to its promise for our next generation. I’m ready to ask the tough questions, bring new energy and ideas to the table, and together’ to get our schools—and our reputation—back where they belong.  

On June 3rd, Vote Joel Illouz for Longmeadow School Committee.

All the best,
Joel Illouz

 

Maury Garrett- Candidate for Longmeadow Select Board

This information was submitted to the LongmeadowBuzz blog by Maury Garrett who is a candidate for one of two seats on the Longmeadow Select Board.

Maury Garrett
Candidate for Select Board

I’m motivated to run for Select Board because of my ongoing commitment to the betterment of our community. Since I first moved to the Town, I have always dedicated my time to service of Longmeadow and I intend to continue this record of Service as a member of the Select Board. I'm focused on repairing our roads and facilities, improving our athletic fields and parks, retaining our seniors, and supporting our schools.

I bring my many years of experience serving our Town on the Finance Committee to the Select Board to further benefit the people of Longmeadow, and see Longmeadow through this fiscal crossroads.

As Chair of the Finance Committee, I cast votes for the Finance Committee to recommend funding the construction of the Longmeadow Adult Center at Town Meeting and I have been a proud supporter of the Adult Center in Longmeadow.

I have a track record of dedication in my years of service with particular focus on our seniors, our youth and our families with school children. I have worked in-depth on matters involving tax and fiscal policy in Longmeadow, roads, facilities and infrastructure maintenance, Community preservation and athletic field improvements.

On the Finance Committee, I led the effort to establish a new practice of regular joint meetings between the Finance Committee, Select Board and School Committee, which persists to this day. I also championed the establishment of the Finance Committee policy to avoid the "fiscal cliff" by advocating limits on the annual tax increases in Longmeadow.

Currently, on the Finance Committee, I am supporting systematic efforts to increase funding to the DPW and capital funding, in order to perform deferred maintenance on our roads and facilities in Longmeadow.

I have been a Longmeadow resident since 2013, an Attorney with a JD from Rutgers University School of Law, practicing Insurance and criminal Defense. I have an Undergraduate degree from Princeton University, where I met my wife, Jackie, a local Physician and Allergist at her own practice, Agape Allergy in West Springfield. We have 3 children, Maury III, a freshman attending Longmeadow High School, playing varsity Lacrosse and Football, Grant, attending Williams Middle School and playing Longmeadow Intermediates Baseball, and Longmeadow Knights Youth Football, and Gillian, attending Williams Middle School and playing Longmeadow Youth Lacrosse and Longmeadow Youth Field Hockey.

I am a member of the Longmeadow Finance Committee for the past 10 years and served as Chairman for 6 years. I am President of Longmeadow Youth Football and a Longmeadow Football Inc., Board Member as well as a Coach of Longmeadow Youth Football for the past 8 years. I am also a Longmeadow Little League and Longmeadow Baseball Association Coach for the past 10 years, currently coaching our Longmeadow Intermediates baseball team. I have also Coached Longmeadow Youth Basketball.

Thank you for reading my election profile. 

I'm asking for your support and your vote at the upcoming Longmeadow Town Elections on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. 

Voting will take place at Community House at the corner of Longmeadow Street and Williams Street. I would appreciate you taking the time to come out and vote for me. Polls are open from 7AM to 8PM.

Thank you for your support,

Maury Garrett

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Email: MauryGarrettforSelectBoard@gmail.com

Gregory C. Macdonald, III- Candidate for the Longmeadow School Committee- 2 year seat

This information was submitted to the LongmeadowBuzz blog by Gregory C. Macdonald, III who is a candidate for the 2 year seat on the Longmeadow School Committee.

Gregory C. Macdonald, III
School Committee Candidate

Why are you running for School Committee?

As a third generation Longmeadow resident and a proud graduate of the Longmeadow Public Schools- Class of 2019- I’ve experienced firsthand the power of our educational system. Our town’s commitment to excellence in education is something I’ve lived- not just heard about. It’s part of who I am.

I’m running for School Committee to bring a voice that’s currently missing: the perspective of a recent student who understands what it’s like to be on the other side of the policies we create. Our current committee is composed of incredibly dedicated and knowledgeable individuals, with expertise in education, finance, and governance. Many are parents and have deep roots in the school system.

What I bring is a bridge- from policy to student experience. I’ve lived the outcomes of our decisions. I know how it feels to navigate the classroom, the college process, and the broader challenges today’s students face. That perspective matters.

Our schools do many things very well. Programs like the Vision of the Graduate are inspiring examples of how we’re preparing students for real-world success- teaching critical thinking, collaboration, and accountability. I want to build on that momentum by further integrating wellness, leadership, and life skills into everyday learning. Not just because I believe in it, but because I’ve seen how powerful those tools are when done right.

I’m also focused on how we can better align our resources with student needs. With ongoing formative assessments, we have a clear opportunity to target our investments- whether it’s in academic support, extra- curriculars, or emerging technologies. We owe it to our students, and our taxpayers, to make sure every dollar is working for the their future.

I’m not running to replace experience- I’m running to complement it. I believe we can continue to honor our schools’ strengths while enhancing them by incorporating student-led feedback, highlighting the mentorship opportunities, and supporting personalized learning pathways that meet students where they are.

I deeply support the great work already happening in our schools and want to help build on it- by bringing a voice that connects the classroom experience to the policy table. With the right vision, collaboration, and heart, we can ensure every student feels seen, supported, and set up for success- however they define it.

What are your qualifications and skills including relevant experience?

While I don’t have formal municipal experience, I bring a different kind of experience recent, firsthand knowledge of what it means to be a student in Longmeadow public schools. I’ve lived the outcomes of our School Committee’s decisions. I’ve seen what works, where students feel supported, and where there’s room to grow- from the inside. That student-centered perspective is something we currently don’t have on the committee, and I believe it’s essential.

In addition to my lived experience, I bring strong communication and collaboration skills, a deep respect for teamwork, and the ability to listen with intention. I’ve been actively engaged in my community in informal ways- talking to families, peers, educators, and students about what matters most to them. I’m a fast learner and someone who takes responsibility seriously.

Most of all, I care deeply about our schools. I’m not here to claim I know everything- I’m here to contribute honesty, ask thoughtful questions, and bring a valuable perspective to the table that’s currently missing.

What are the largest issues facing Longmeadow as a community?

One of the largest challenges Longmeadow faces is ensuring our schools evolve to meet the needs of today’s students while preserving the high standards our town values. Student mental health is a major concern- many students are dealing with stress, anxiety, and the lasting effects of the pandemic. We need to continue building the bridge between our students and our well-funded support systems, like counseling services and social-emotional learning, to meet students where they are.

Another issue is ensuring our schools are preparing students for more than just tests- we should be focusing on real-world readiness. Programs like Vision of the Graduate are a great start, and we can build on them by expanding access to STEM, career exploration, and leadership development. We also need to listen to students more- the more we integrate student voice, the more responsive and relevant our schools become.

Lastly, the condition of our school buildings is an important issue. Students and teachers need safe, functional, and inspiring learning environments. Addressing these needs with transparency and community input will be key.

At the core of these challenges is a simple question: Are we creating a school system where every student feels seen, supported, and set up for success? That’s the lens I’ll bring to the table.

How would you propose to resolve these issues?

I believe good policy starts with good listening. First, we need to hear from students and educators- directly- about what’s working and where support is needed. From there, I’d advocate for targeted investments based on real-time student data and formative assessments. That means putting our resources into areas where they’ll have the biggest impact: mental health, academic support, extracurriculars, and student services.

To support mental wellness, we can continue to notify students of their abundant access to counseling, peer support programs, and classroom practices that support emotional health. For academics, I’d like to see us grow and foster opportunities for hands-on learning- whether it’s through STEM labs, career pathways, or mentoring programs that connect students with professionals in the community.

And when it comes to school facilities, I would support a transparent, community-driven conversation about building maintenance and improvement policies, always with student learning and safety as the focus.

Most of all, I want to make sure students feel like they have a seat at the table- that their experiences help shape the decisions we make. That’s the kind of leadership I want to bring.

Please vote for me on June 3, 2025.

Gregory C. Macdonald, III

Why Mark Gold is running for reelection to the Select Board

This letter to the Longmeadow Buzz blog was submitted by Mark Gold, candidate for re-election to the Longmeadow Select Board....

Why are you running again for Select Board?

I’m running for reelection to the Select Board because I believe I can uniquely continue to contribute to the progress of Longmeadow. The skills I bring to the position, combined with the experience I’ve gained during my tenure on the board have provided me with knowledge and understanding of the issues that are important to the residents of Longmeadow, and the ability to make progress on resolving those issues. My position as the most experienced member of the Select Board provides stability and consistency that continues to support our Town Manager and Chief Financial Officer. Yet with all that my past initiatives have helped achieve, there are achievements that remain incomplete, and I am asking for your vote to allow me to complete these goals.

What are your qualifications/ skills including relevant experience? 

I bring unique qualifications and skills to the Select Board. My formal degrees are in engineering and business administration. I primarily worked as a corporate manager but have had a second career as a management consultant. With those skills, I bring an analytical approach to understanding the issues facing the town, from budgeting to setting water rates. I am the only Select Board member who has worked in a management position for a Fortune 500 company. With this background, I uniquely understand companies the town deals with, whether that be MGM where I used these skills to help the town negotiate the second largest surrounding community agreement in Western Mass, to trash hauling contracts, were my skills supplemented those of the town’s purchasing department, a department designed to administer, not negotiate contracts, normally assigning them to the lowest bidder. My additional experience of managing subordinates, something no other Select Board member has, and working as a consultant to Boards of Directors, makes me uniquely skilled at working with the town administration as both a partner as well as part of the elected oversight team.  

What are the largest issues facing Longmeadow as a community?

The largest issue facing Longmeadow remains providing the services town residents require within the fiscal constraints of the residents and Proposition 2½. Addressing this issue involves understanding the town’s services and tax structure as well as listening to and working with the residents who pay these bills. The town must aggressively reduce costs wherever possible (such as I did when I led the program that purchased and installed LED Streetlights) and find sources of revenue to supplement tax income (as I did when I initiated the local 0.75% meals tax).

A second issue requiring the attention of the town is the need to maintain a level of department staffing that provides the services town residents require, which in turn requires control of the town budget. Maintaining working relationships with Town employees in balance with budget constraints is an essential need of the town. 

The third issue facing the town is the disposition of the Glenbrook school property. As we move forward with a single middle school on the Williams site, the town needs to have a comprehensive plan for the development of the Glenbrook property in a way that maximizes the financial offset to the cost of the new middle school while maintaining the character of that neighborhood and the overall town.

How would you propose to resolve the top 3 issues?

It’s a trite-sounding answer, but the way to address the first two of these issues is for the town to be ahead of the financial requirements of the town rather than be reactive to these financial issues. That means that we need to continue to work on reducing the cost of providing services where those costs can be reduced as well as to identify and implement opportunities to bring supplemental revenue to the town. I have identified several cost savings and supplemental income opportunities for the town and will continue to address these issues if re-elected to the Select Board. 

To address the issues surrounding the Glenbrook property, the town should convene a group of elected leaders and neighborhood residents to identify and develop options for repositioning that asset. The goal of the group must be clearly defined by the convener (Select Board) and be evaluated by the residents.

I ask for your vote in the June 3rd Annual Town Elections to allow me to make that possible.

 

 

Emily James Hansen- Candidate for 3 year School Committee Seat

 This information was submitted to the LongmeadowBuzz blog by Emily James Hansen who is a candidate for the 3 year seat on the Longmeadow School Committee.

Emily Hansen
Candidate for School Committee

My name is Emily Hansen and I’m a candidate for School Committee.

I earned my Master of Arts in English with an emphasis on 19th-century American literature and composition & rhetoric studies from Middle Tennessee State University (the largest undergraduate university in Tennessee), where I also taught Freshman Composition and Research & Argumentative Writing. At the time, I was the only MA candidate to teach Research & Argumentative Writing while still earning my degree; the course was typically taught by Ph.D students. Since leaving the university, I’ve stayed tangentially involved in academia. I’ve published essays on Edgar Allan Poe and also pop culture, and served as an associate curator for an online exhibit showcasing connections between Edgar Allan Poe and French poet Charles Baudelaire.  

For over a decade, I’ve worked in tech including at two Fortune 500 companies. As a project and program manager, I’ve been tasked with keeping projects moving forward, raising and resolving issues quickly, motivating teams to deliver on-time, and tracking the budget so we can complete the work without asking for additional funds or removing a deliverable. I’m not afraid to raise my hand when something needs to be addressed. I’ve created roadmaps for long-term strategic planning and phased implementations, and worked with teams to make adjustments as priorities changed so we are delivering the most value to stakeholders. Currently, I am a program manager in operations and work to ensure everyone is on the same page about how we need to grow, how we plan to measure growth to see if we are on track to meet our goals, and to decide what we need to do if we are falling short. Additionally, I’ve been formally recognized for efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within my company.  

In 2023, my husband (Nathan) and I moved to Longmeadow with our son (Miles). As Miles approached school age, we decided to leave Nashville where we had both lived for decades and started looking for a community that valued education. My husband’s mother is from South Hadley so we were familiar with Western Mass and fell in love with Longmeadow.  

We moved here from Nashville largely to seek better education opportunities for our son. I’m running for School Committee because I want to ensure the continued success of our schools. With the recent re-opening of the shops on Shaker Road and the upcoming build of the shops on Bliss, our fabulous library, excellent schools and after-school programs, more and more families are going to be attracted to our amenities and quickly fall in love with our community and the people who make our town so special. With this growth comes some growing pains. As we’ve seen with the middle school project, we have a lot of needs and wants from our community to consider. The increased traffic from cars and busses routing to the new middle school will impact our residents and I know they are keen to mitigate this. While I agree we need a new middle school (more cost-effective to build one new school rather than try to bring the existing schools into the 21st century), I also don’t want to lose sight of the refurbishments our other schools need as well. As a parent of a Wolf Swamp Elementary student, I’m concerned about the number of times mold has been detected in a nearby classroom this school year. While I’m grateful lunch is provided to students at no additional cost, I do want to explore some other dietary options. Having spent so many years in research, I’m comfortable spending time to understand the root cause of the issue and finding a solution to resolve it.   

I value public education and believe a good education is one of the best investments we can make in our children. Growing up in both blue and red states, I know the value of education, and the importance of an educated populace. I also believe civic engagement is important and our community is strengthened by the commitments we make to nurture it – this is why I am excited to run for School Committee. I plan to put my background in education and my extensive experience as a project and program manager to good use as your representative. I’m creative and scrappy, and love solving problems. I’m also diligent and persistent. I see a challenge through to the end, even when it’s hard.   

One last note and a thank you for reading this far. Servant Leadership is central to who I am. I’m not running for School Committee for me, I’m running to serve this town and to give back to a community that has welcomed me and my family and provided a nurturing space for all of us to be safe and to grow.   

I humbly ask you to vote for me to represent you on the School Committee. Visit my website (www.emilyjhansen.com) for my info and please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Emily James Hansen

 

H. Kate Bean- Candidate for the 2 Year School Committee Seat

This information was submitted to the LongmeadowBuzz blog by H. Kate Bean who is a candidate for the 2 year seat on the Longmeadow School Committee.

H Kate Bean
School Committee Candidate

I would like to introduce myself as a candidate for the Longmeadow School Committee. I have been a resident of Longmeadow for over 40 years and collectively my husband and I have had 4 children benefit from the Longmeadow schools.

I am currently a consultant pharmacist and work with a group of nursing homes. I came to pharmacy later in life as an attestant to my commitment of life long learning. I received a degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology and went on to receive a bachelors degree in economics from the University of Massachusetts.

My careers have spanned working as a financial consultant and ultimately managing offices in Connecticut and Massachusetts for a small brokerage company, to a training program at Mass Mutual working as a system analyst.

I then decided to become an entrepreneur and opened a clothing boutique in town, Perion which I ran successfully for 8 years.

My pathway to pharmacy began in my late 40’s and I received a Doctorate of Pharmacy from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy.

I have always had a commitment to civic duty. My volunteer work has been varied and took many paths. Highlights include Co-chairing the Young Patrons at the Springfield Museums, President of the Board at Heritage Academy for 2 years and a member of the Longmeadow Zoning board. 

Why are you running for School Committee?

I want to continue my dedication to the town that has provided so much to our family. We have a strong history and commitment to Longmeadow and plan to stay in town for the duration. I want to participate in keeping our schools the pride of Massachusetts. We have enjoyed seeing our particular neighborhood change over and we have many friends and neighbors with young children. I want to be a part of making those families realize what we were able to benefit from.  

There are significant challenges for educators and young people these days. I hope to guide our schools in inclusivity, fairness, respect and excellence.

I believe a well rounded education fosters a well rounded individual Exposure to the arts, athletics and music are not extras, they are critical.

What are your qualifications including relevant experience?

The School Committee budget is the largest of the town budgets. My experience in financial services and running a small business provide a background to able to review budgets and make positive decisions.

Critical thinking, challenging the status quo and attention to detail are skills I have honed that will be imperative to spend our tax dollars wisely.

What are the key challenges facing Longmeadow as a community?

I believe Longmeadow, as well as every other community, is going to face increasingly tighter fiscal constraints. Creativity and attention to detail are going to be imperative to be able to continue to offer the superior education Longmeadow is known for.

How would you propose to resolve these issues?

I am a team player and look forward to offering my experience and expertise to the other quality members of the Longmeadow school committee. I think it takes a village to raise a child, I am a member of that village and look forward to being a part of making sure the future of our schools is a priority.

Thank you.
H. Kate Bean

I would appreciate your support.

Please mark your calendars to come out and vote on Tuesday, June 3rd at the Longmeadow Community House.