I returned to the region three years ago and ask for your support to the Select Board.  “Returned” is correct, since growing up in Boscawen and graduating from Merrimack Valley High School is very local.  Upon retirement there was no question about our desire to come “home” to Andover.  We’ve maintained property on Highland Lake, returning almost every year.

Following graduation from the United States Naval Academy, my wife (Cheryl Fenton Swenson) and I experienced many areas through Naval service and then a civilian career directing facilities in health systems. The 16 years prior to retirement were spent overseeing Facilities Operations, Construction, and Real Estate for UMass Memorial Health Care – operating budget $50M+ and annual capital budget $75M+.

I participate on national and local boards, and just finished as the lead author on the revised AHA Planning, Design, and Construction – Project Management Handbook.  Recently I was appointed to fill a one-year Budget Committee vacancy and served on the Search Committee for the Town Administrator.  Facilities Operations and Town Governance are similar – highly regulated, very visible, customer oriented – a skill set that I enjoy and bring to the Select Board. 

I propose expanding the 2016 updated Andover Master Plan.  Beyond land use, an expanded Plan concerns aged buildings and infrastructure – Town Office Building, Police Department Building, Fire Stations, School Buildings, highway planning, bridges.  Establishing current conditions and planning continued use or eventual replacement makes for prudent use of Town resources.

This is a mindset I bring to the Select Board.  Please support me on March 14.