To the editor:

I am writing this letter in support of Joseph Connell for Lynnfield Select Board. Election Day is April 9 and I urge all Lynnfield veterans, as well as all Lynnfield residents, to vote for Joe Connell. I believe in this man, you should, too. Here’s why: Joe is a 30-year Army veteran, with four combat deployments. He is a combat veteran with deployments to Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

When he retired, he wanted to raise his children in the best town and environment he possibly could, which is why he chose Lynnfield. His children are enrolled in the Lynnfield schools. He made a commitment to give back to that town in any way possible. I believe he has done just that and wants to continue to do more. As a Lynnfield resident since 2012, he has given his time and commitment to the following:
Chairman: Lynnfield Select Board
Chairman: Lynnfield Veterans Memorial Committee
Chairman: Town of Lynnfield Strategic Planning Committee
Board Member: Lynnfield Youth Lacrosse
Former Assistant Coach: Boys Youth Lacrosse
Former Coach: Girls Youth Soccer
Board Member: New Public Safety Building Committee
Board Member: Lynnfield Rail Trail
Board Member: New Lynnfield Cemetery Committee
Committee Member: Selection Committee of new High School principal
Chairman: Lynnfield 250th Celebration Committee
Member: Lynnfield American Legion Post 131

Joe has had an enormous leadership impact on this town. He has supported our great public school system, which is one of the very best in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As chairperson of the Town of Lynnfield’s Strategic Planning Committee, he worked on school expansion and successfully advocated to add five classrooms to each of our two elementary schools and a gymnasium to Huckleberry School. There is no better advocate for our schools than Joe. He works relentlessly with the School Committee and Finance Committee to get the budget the schools need to succeed. He has supported our youth sports teams and other extracurricular activities, the new Public Safety and Town Hall buildings and the new Veterans Memorial — both now under construction, Lynnfield Rail Trail, Richardson Green Conservation land and other natural resources, Sagamore Golf Course Senior Housing development, and many other amazing accomplishments. As a member of the current Select Board, he has worked to keep Lynnfield at an AA+ financial rating.

Joe Connell has what it takes to make the difficult decisions that will impact all of us, especially when it comes to fighting to maintain town services at a level that is affordable for all residents. Simply put, Joe is a natural born leader with proven capabilities. He has made all the right decisions for the Town of Lynnfield. He has a tremendous amount of experience in municipal government and a complete understanding of the budgetary process. He has attended virtually 100% of the meetings on all of the boards and committees he has volunteered to serve on. He is an accomplished corporate leader and has had a considerable amount of business success in the private sector to go along with his success in the public sector.

Joe has served his country and his community in an extraordinary manner. Frankly, he has done so in a way that few others could do. Over the years, Joe has had a history of quietly supporting veterans and various veterans causes. As such, I respectfully ask all of Lynnfield’s more than 400 veterans, as well as all of the residents of the Town of Lynnfield, to please vote for Joe Connell so he can continue to serve the citizens of this remarkable town as a member of your Select Board. We need Joe to finish the Public Safety Project, the Veterans Memorial, and the Rail Trail Project. Since the Finance Committee killed the new Library Project, Joe is heading up the project to enhance our current library to meet the needs identified by the library staff and all the parents that advocated for a better library. From ages 2 to 102, Joe listens to understand, builds trust, develops relationships, and has the humility and gratitude that all who come in contact with him see immediately. Please join us in getting Joe reelected on April 9.

Sincerely,

Thomas P. Bogart, Commander
Lynnfield American Legion Post 131