Terra Friedrichs
& her local work in
Acton, Massachusetts
From Mike Gowing [former Selectman, who Terra served with]
In support of Terra Friedrichs
I am writing this letter in support of Terra Friedrichs for Acton Selectman. When I was on the Select Board, I served with Terra and found her to be intelligent, engaged, driven, and fiscally responsible.
In 2009 we were facing another national crisis – the financial collapse of the housing market. It destroyed the stock market and tanked the housing market to the point where people were underwater with their mortgages. The town faced many financial challenges as people had trouble paying their property tax. I worked closely with Terra and members of the Finance Committee, School Committee, town manager and superintendent on a cost saving committee focused on finding cost savings within the town budget. We were ultimately successful, resulting in no layoffs in the town or schools.
We are, once again, faced with difficult decisions. Based on my previous experience of working with Terra, I think that she would be well-positioned to deal with the looming financial issues facing the town. She has proven analytical skills, an excellent understanding of finance and a willingness to work cooperatively to come to consensus. Please join me in voting for her for selectmen, June 2. You can apply for an early ballot application from the town clerk that will be mailed to you, or you can brave the polls (all voting will be conducted at the R.J. Gray junior high school this time). This is an important election.
Mike Gowing
former selectmen
*
Hi there,
Dear Beacon:
I once again write to express my support for Terra Friedrichs for Selectman in the Town of Acton, MA.
Terra is someone we know well having listened to her at many town meetings over the past several years as issues arise, notably around development. She is forthright, but always dedicated to the town and its strong future. As important, Terra is willing to bring her analysis, ideas and cautions to our civic discourse in a way that is honest and based on the facts. As someone said, we are all entitled to our own opinions, but we are not entitled to our own facts.
The direction the town of Acton has taken regarding growth in the last years can be troubling. Increasingly, fellow citizens express this same concern. New development in town continues its rapid pace seemingly undeterred. It will change the character of this town if a more rationale yet innovative approach to development and growth are not considered.
Terra Friedrichs has a willingness to speak out on this issue, as well as many others, to express her concerns respectfully in a democratic way. We stop, listen and begin to think more openly and creatively. She is smart and that is a terrific asset; she is also indefatigable which is rare.
As important, Terra is a seasoned and sophisticated professional who appreciates that towns need to grow responsibly. The town has begun to suffer from development fatigue. Terra knows this and expresses her concerns through her citizen activism, but always with sincerity. Adding her thoughtful energy and leadership to the BOS would be an asset for the town.
In any town, growth can tempt like a 'shiny new thing' but in the end it can also become fool's gold. Terra understands that Acton can move in new directions with creative solutions on many issues of infrastructure and growth that compel the town’s attentions in this 21st century. As a realist, she will seek practical, collaborative, diverse solutions, not obstructionist ones.
As a Selectman, with her colleagues, Terra will be especially keen to meet the interests of all of Acton's citizens without over looking the special needs of any one constituency.
Terra will reach for bold initiatives that show fairness and balance while remaining totally accountable to all of us her fellow residents in Acton.
Barbara
L. Morse
May
19, 2020
*
Editor
The Beacon, (Serving Acton and Boxborough):
Terra Friedrichs for Selectman
Terra Friedrichs is a person whose name and face are familiar to most Acton citizens who come to Town Meeting or who participate in any significant way in town activities or government. This is not simply because she has a public profile from her previous experience as a Selectman. Rather, it is because she exemplifies what a true “community activist” ought to be!
Terra once admitted to me that she is an engineer (by gifting and training), as am I. In my view, an engineer is a person who can perceive, understand, analyze and organize/design almost anything. Terra has used these skills to develop her career in finance and strategic planning. In or out of public office, Terra has proactively and selflessly contributed her talents, across the board, to help improve Town programs and resolve Town issues.
Terra is an “activist” who rises to speak on many issues at Town Meeting. Why? Because she can swiftly understand difficult technical or programmatic concepts, identify issues, and come up with viable solutions. She can perform her own study, ‘on the back of an envelope’, and come out quite close to what an expensive consultant will report after months of effort.
As we all know, the person who has a reputation for pointing out significant problems, is seldom the most welcome individual at a corporate or political meeting. However, management books I have read tend to agree that such a person is usually the most valuable one there.
Terra has a history of standing for transparency, while seeking to maintain good relations and communications across the political spectrum. (Incidentally, I am on a somewhat different part of the spectrum than she.)
In our “community” Terra is an advocate for housing for the truly needy – the people who have no prayer of affording the “low-income” units that 40B developments produce. Terra has been an environmental activist for Acton long before Green Acton, while addressing issues such as road safety, water health, and development that helps the truly needy while sustaining town character and property values.
Terra lives what she advocates! Acton is blessed to have her as an active citizen, and especially that she is running for Selectman.
Vote Terra for Selectman!
Greg Bishop, Main Street, South Acton
*
Dear Fellow Citizens of Acton,
Please join me in supporting Terra Friedrichs for Acton Board of Selectmen.
When Terra drives by a beautiful wooded area or farmland her first instinct is to ask how can we conserve that? When she sees stalled traffic she thinks, how can this intersection be redesigned to relieve congestion, but not encourage more development which will lead to even more traffic? When she sees a commercial building with a flat roof she wonders why there isn’t already a set of solar panels installed there. When she discovers that the people most in need of affordable housing have been on the subsidized housing list for years, while developers continue to abuse the 40B housing program by failing to build for those who need housing the most, she speaks up and presents the facts. When the signs go up every summer for all of us to conserve water, she naturally wonders how can we expand housing developments, if we don’t have enough water?
Her default position is let’s preserve what we have. Terra has lived in Acton all of her life. She knows the character of our town. She understands that we have made a commitment to the history and future of Acton. We’ve established historic districts, open space committees, conservation and recreation departments, built a strong school system, etc. all with the purpose of keeping what we have to enjoy in the future as we have in the past.
She also knows that developers don’t like to renovate older buildings, because there is less profit to be made there, but what we need most is to redesign and renovate older buildings, convert some to deeded affordable units and maintain the population of Acton, while not losing more land to developers who don’t live here and don’t care about the future of our town.
I am supporting Terra Friedrichs for Acton Board of Selectmen, because she gets it. She understands how even subtle differences in policy language can have major impact on development outcomes. She asks the questions that make us pause. Some people don’t like that, because they cannot push through what is expedient for them, but Terra Friedrichs is exactly what we need now as we adjust to a new world.
She helped us get through the last financial crisis. She can help us again. I hope you will join me in voting for Terra Friedrichs for Acton Board of Selectmen.
Sincerely,
Eric Ranvig
65 School St.
Acton, MA 01720
Letters to the Editor, sent to the Acton Beacon in 2018 [not all got published...these are the ones we know of]
Please join me in supporting Terra Friedrichs for Selectman.
At a time when we have plenty of calm and measured voices in town government, we need Terra's strong, courageous voice.
At a time when we are exceeding our water limits, and our town leadership looks the other way, Terra has a history of
boldly speaking out to protect our water supply. She helped start the Water Resources Advisory Committee, and convinced
local volunteer scientists to participate. WRAC is now taking the lead in town to help us engage in in-depth water
planning.
Terra does the research necessary so that our community can understand the difference between rhetoric and reality. The
current Board has little scientific or business background. Terra has both. As an engineer, she understands how critical
it is to engage in science-based planning. And as a business person, she knows how to stand tough against developers
and others who seek to profit from our complacency.
When last a selectperson, Terra was the lone voice--- until others listened and joined her--standing firm against the
establishment of a “big box” daycare chain which would have been an unsustainable travesty on our own Main Street and
destroyed small Acton daycares. When I worked with Terra to defend due process for Acton immigrants, it was she alone
who did the behind-the-scenes careful legal research that resulted in Acton's current protections, something that also
would not have been possible without Terra’s consensus-building she engaged in with diverse groups that made up the
entire political spectrum. Calm can be a good thing. But we also need people who will stand up and speak truth to power.
If you desire a healthy, just, transparent, democratically-run, and sustainable Acton,
please vote for Terra on March 27th.
Danny Factor
11 Davis Rd.
#A5 Acton
We are writing in support of Terra Friedrichs for Acton Board of Selectmen.
We have seen Terra in action for many years and know her to be a hard-working and dedicated advocate for our town.
Terra is concerned with environmental and human rights issues. She is a person who cares for all people. Terra is in
support of deed restricting in order to ensure that already existing low income housing stays, rather than building
higher priced townhouses with so-called low income limits. These limits are often middle income. Terra has a lot of
knowledge about our town government, and about our town's many resources and services. The future of water in
Acton is a pressing issue that Terra has been studying closely.
We need the energy and leadership of Terra Friedrichs on the Board of Selectmen.
Karen Boutet
Alan Nidle
67 Hammond St.
Acton, MA 01720
Dear Editor,
Terra Friedrichs is an unusual person and Acton is fortunate to have her. I say this because of all the places in the
world she as a brilliant and successful strategist might choose to live and work she has chosen Acton. Her love for
this town has been our boon. As a doctor, I feel like Terra's focus on water and sustainability is critical at this
point in time. Her number one concern in every area is what is best for the people Acton, what Acton wants for the
future. She is tireless in her quest for understanding the issues and the facts. She digs deep into the questions
of our town government. Her understanding of the problems facing the town is well-grounded, her solutions to our
problems is visionary. I support Terra Friedrichs for Selectman.
Gene Beresin, MD, MA
80 School Street
Acton, MA 01720
NOT AT ALL BUSINESS AS USUAL!
To the Editor of the Beacon:
Dear Actonians, this year's Board of Selectmen election is very far from business as usual. If you pick one year to get
involved in town government, this is the one. The town's future water supply, yes both quality and quantity, are at
stake. Your vote has very important long term implications for the town's ability to provide good quality of life for
all residents planning to be here five, ten, or twenty years in the future.
Terra Friedrichs has taken the courageous stance of asking hard questions about Concord's intentions relative to Acton's Nagog Pond water resource, and of concluding that she needs to take a stand OPPOSING caving in to Concord's demands.
Whereas her opponent has gone on record supporting Concord's water grab.
The current Board of Selectmen, in deliberations conducted almost totally in secret ("Executive session") has agreed to
a set of conditions totally one sided toward the town of Concord, and greatly reducing Acton's water resources options
for the next twenty years. Only by electing an independent and courageous voice that is willing to look beyond
expediency, will the long term interests of Acton be served (namely Terra Friedrichs.)
Terra can come across as a difficult skeptic at times. I have found, though, that over the past four years, Terra has
taken to heart the need to be collaborative and constructive in her efforts with the Town. Her insight into the
economic and quality of life tradeoffs in town, together with her willingness to insist on transparency of information
so all of us citizens can know what is happening in Town Hall and what our choices are, to me make her a compelling
choice.
I will be voting for Terra, because I am confident that she will do her best to protect the town's water, quality of
life, and open spaces for all of us in the near future and for future generations.
I urge your participation in this year's election.
Ron Beck
80 Esterbrook Road
Acton
I support Terra Friedrichs for Selectman. Over the last 20 years, Ms. Friedrichs has advocated for the Town of Acton and its preservation, planning, and financial well-being. Having lived in Acton for the last 11 years, I’ve watched Terra use her professional business/technical skills to identify issues otherwise unnoticed or unchallenged by other committees, town staff, and elected officials. While waving a red flag that things “aren’t right” is often a solitary -
many times irritating - endeavor, Terra has been a dogged champion who has repeatedly been on target in her assessments.
Her knowledge of planning strategies for Acton’s financial stability, building and conservation planning, affordable housing and water sustainability are of critical importance for the future of our town and quality of life.
I whole-heartedly support re-electing Terra Friedrichs to the Board of Selectmen, knowing she will act on behalf of Acton’s citizens to better understand the vulnerable aspects of our planning and to strategize solutions that will help us move forward as an informed body.
Respectfully submitted,
Leigh Davis Honn
105 School Street
978-263-4301
[[disclosure: Leigh is a former member of Acton's Planning Board and Acton's Economic Development Committee. Leigh served with Terra on the development of the Acton2020 Plan]]
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I am voting for Terra Friedrichs for Board of Selectmen member because I have come to understand that there will be a
future water problem in Acton if we don't address this issue today. Currently there are no mechanics in place to factor in water availability as we plan for the future growth of our town.
In fact, it is the only issue that has been consistently overlooked by town government and the BoS.I know that Terra
shares my concerns, and I feel confidant that she will bring both integrity and activism to the Board.
Sincerely,
Nancy Lenicheck
24 Windsor Ave
978-857-6908
[[disclosure: Nancy is Terra's (wonderful!) Step-mum of over 30 years]]
Terra will protect Acton's Character According to the citizen surveys conducted on behalf of the Acton 2020 Master Plan
Committee, a vast majority of Acton residents indicated they wanted to preserve town character. This can be accomplished in many ways – one of which is design review of proposed commercial, multi-family and civic developments.
It is important to get the right development in the right place to promote preservation of the character that makes
Acton special, if not unique. Terra Friedrichs not only understands this but has actively promoted design review and
participated in the review processes of many developments over her many years as an Acton resident and previous
Selectman.
Additionally, as water use in Acton becomes a critical issue, she will advocate for use of this important asset as a
fundamental planning tool. This is not to say that I, as an architect member of the Design Review Board and chair of
the Historic District Commission agree with all of Terra’s positions but through our differences in philosophy, ideas
and perspectives we, as a town, can develop our best ideas and our best future. Terra Friedrichs embodies this
democratic process as she raises difficult questions not to be difficult but to arrive collectively at the best answers.
I believe that with her invaluable previous Selectman experience in both the design review area, along with her
understanding of the need for economic development, she is the right person for the position for our next three years.
I support the re-election of Terra Friedrichs for Acton Board of Selectmen.
David Honn
105 School Street
[[disclosure: David is a professional architect a member of Acton's Design Review Board, and Chair of Acton's Historic
District Commission. He wrote to the Beacon as a private citizen]]
"She knows how our town operates well, and more importantly where we don't operate well."
"She brings diversity to the board"
Dear Editor:
For some years it was my privilege to work with Terra Friedrichs on the Acton town commission level and after her first
election to the Board of Selectmen. She was always a spirited, knowledgeable official, one of the best-informed around.
She champions open, honest government and constituents’ views to an unusual degree. Her dedication to retaining as much
as we can of Acton’s remaining charm and character while moving forward has always impressed me. Please vote to return
Terra to the Board of Selectmen—we need her strong voice again to help guidethe town to a better future.
Brian Bendig
74 Nagog Hill Road
Please come back soon, as we post updates!
The following letters were from Terra's Board of Selectmen campaign in 2011. We keep them here for historical purposes, and so you can see the support she's had in prior years, too!
The Acton town elections are next Tuesday, March 29th 2011.
There are three candidates for the two seats on the Board of Selectmen. Your vote will decide the winners.
I am voting for Terra Friedrichs. Terra is completely dedicated to making Acton a better place to live. She knows this town -- thoroughly. She has strong opinions and does not hesitate to express them (not always at the right time) but she does listen and respects other people's views. I know that from personal experience -- Terra and I agree on a lot of things and have disagreed on almost as many.
Terra spends the proverbial countless hours on "town business", does a lot of her own research, is always thinking about the long-range changes that Acton will experience, has understood some of the problems that we will have to resolve (unfunded liabilities, for example) much sooner than most people, offers solutions.
Terra not only deserves to be re-elected, we need Terra.
Please vote next Tuesday. For Terra.
Charlie Kedlec
Charlie is an Acton finance expert and a long-time financial watchdog. He is the Co-Founder of the Acton Voter's Group. Charlies was recently nominated to the Board of Directors of the Acton-Boxborough United Way.
Re-elect Terra Friedrichs to the Board of Selectmen
All the candidates for Board of Selectmen are kind, generous, sweet, thrifty, brave, obedient, cheerful, etc. However, Selectwoman Terra Friedrichs has distinguished herself by her drive to make decisions based on facts and analysis. This is particularly apparent in her participation in the Comprehensive Community Plan, Acton 2020, and deliberations concerning affordable housing, budgets, and open space. She is a pleasure to work with, more so if you have done your homework by marshalling and analyzing facts ahead of time. I find her having her ducks in a row and making decisions based on evidence both refreshing and highly desirable characteristics for someone making decisions about how to spend my money. Please re-elect Selectwoman Terra Friedrichs.
Brandy Brandon
5 Parmley Drive
Brandy is a sitting member of the Finance Committee, member of the Phase 1 Master Planning committee, registered Republican and a professional economist.
Terra Plays A Crucial Role
Dear Editor,
Terra Friedrichs plays a key role in our town government. She has no personal axe to grind and works tirelessly on all of our behalf. Terra treats a very part time job as her full time occupation. As a result she is very often able to dig out the important facts and information that we are all entitled to have in making town decisions. She has constantly worked on behalf of fair and honest decision making. This has been nowhere so apparent as on the subject of water resources. She has made it her business to understand a complex issue in a way that few
I support Terra for Selectman for her dedication, her ethics, her open mindedness, and most important her experience in this difficult time.
Ron Beck
80 Esterbrook Road
Ron is currently serving as Chair of
Transparency, Truth and TCO
Dear Editor,
I was happy to learn that Terra Friedrichs has decided to run for re-election to the Acton Board of Selectmen. Since her initial election as a Selectman, Terra has consistently asked many of the tough questions that need to be answered so that the citizens of
Terra has demonstrated her interest and dedication to managing
I support Terra Friedrichs election as Selectman.
Barry Rosen
Acton, MA
Barry currently serves on Acton’s Water Resources Advisory Committee and on the Acton Water District’s Land Use Study Group.
Understanding is Well-grounded
Dear Editor,
Terra Friedrichs is an unusual person and
I have worked with Terra on the Historic District Commission, the village land group, and on other issues. Her number one concern in every area is what is best for the people Acton, what
I support Terra Friedrichs for Selectman.
Michaela Moran
80 School Street
Michaela is currently serving as Vice-Chair and member of the Historic District Commission, Real Estate Agent, mother/grandmother, registered Democrat and South Acton Historic District property owner and resident.
Friedrichs for Selectman
I have worked with Terra Friedrichs often during the 18 years I have served Acton as a volunteer and elected official. I know first hand that she is
totally committed to and passionate about preserving Acton's character while controlling costs. She is intelligent, analytical and an indefatigable
worker. To illustrate her commitment to preserve Acton's character she helped found the Design Review Board, helped organize Green Acton, a
citizens advisory group; and helped organize the Green Advisory Board. She is an active participant and leader in the current effort to update
Acton's Master Plan and is the Selectman liaison to the Historic District Commission. She works to preserve open space without exception.
She has steadfastly opposed the Rt 27/Rt 2 Day Care Center. Her efforts contributed to the rejection of the proposed agreement which would
have resulted in the building of this Center.
She has an MBA and does marketing research as a profession. Thus she has command of sophisticated analytical tools and the ability to use them to make reasoned recommendations and decisions. During her first term her detailed analysis of budgets and the resulting probing questions contributed to ensuring that
These next three years are going to be challenging. We live in uncertain economic times. The pressure on our budgets will be unprecedented. The pressure to change the character of our town will be significant as developers try to maximize their profits. We are truly fortunate that a person with Terra’s intellect, energy, education, experience and passion has come forward to serve for a second term as a Selectman. Please join me and vote for her.
Herman Kabakoff
27 Robinwood Road
Herman is a former Selectman, current sitting member of the School Committee, former Chair of the Finance Committee, a registered Republican and a Director of Finance & Accounting professionally
Citizens Want to Preserve Town Character
According to the citizen surveys conducted on behalf of the Acton Master Planning efforts which started in 2008 and is continuing through the Acton 2020 committee, a vast majority of
Selectman Terra Friedrichs not only understands this but has actively promoted design review and participated in the review processes of many developments over the last three years. This is not to say that I as an architect agree with all of Terra’s design ideas…but this would also not be reflective of our fundamental democratic process. Through our differences in philosophy, ideas and perspectives we, as a town, develop our best ideas and our best future. Terra Friedrichs embodies this democratic process as she raises difficult questions not, I believe, to be difficult but to arrive at the best answers.
I believe that with her invaluable Selectman experience in both the design review area, along with the town’s need for business development, she is the right person for the job for our next three years. I fully support the re-election of Terra Friedrichs for Acton Board of Selectmen.
David Honn
105 School Street
David is a professional architect, a resident of the South Acton Historic District, a train commuter, a member of the South Acton Train Station Advisory Committee, a member of the Acton Historic District Commission, and a member of the Acton Design Review Board. He has worked with Terra for over 3 years on various committees in
Terra, Advocate for
Terra Friedrichs, a selectman candidate for re-election, has demonstrated a tireless energy for improving our town. Terra has been a strong proponent for Actonians with proven focus for the past three years on preserving town character and financially steering the town during difficult economic times.
Terra provides a strong voice on the Board of Selectmen to ensure each opportunity and issue facing our town is well-researched and actively considered. Through Terra's efforts, and willingness to raise the hard questions for discussion, we Actonians can feel confident that the best collaborative decisions are being made for our town.
Always the good Samaritan, Terra organized and followed thru the collection and delivery of computers as part of the relief of hurricane Katrina victims.
On March 29, please support Terra Friedrichs and vote to re-elect her for Selectman.
Dave Lunger
5 Wampanoag
Dave is a member of the Acton Town Republican Party, a member of the Acton Voter’s Group, a parent of an ABRHS student, and a local beekeeper and an Acton-Boxboro Farmer’s Market purveyor of honey.
Re-elect Terra Friedrichs
I support Terra Friedrichs for Selectman in the
Terra's experience will be most valuable in the coming several years of difficult budgets.
I urge everyone to vote for Terra Friedrichs on March 29th.
Mary Anne Seward
42 Washington Drive
Mary Anne is a mother, grandmother, a registered Republican and an active friend to the concerns of our town.
Independent Thinker
To The Editor: