Experience. Leadership. Results.
I am seeking re-election to the Sudbury Select Board, and I ask for your vote on Monday, March 28th. I have been honored to serve the Sudbury community on the Select Board these past three years as a member, Vice-Chair, and now as Chair. I bring proven leadership, a broad skillset, a measured and collaborative style, and a results-driven work ethic, all which have helped me lead during this recent period of both challenge and opportunity.
Sudbury is a wonderful place to live and work. It uniquely combines a rural, historic character with a strong residential housing market, excellent schools, and a commercial sector that offers vital services. As a Select Board member, I have successfully balanced these factors when making policy and decisions. I approach all issues by researching the facts, evaluating matters critically, and finding strategic solutions.
Throughout my first term as a Select Board member, I identified the needs of the community while working to address challenges and pursue new opportunities. I can proudly say that every Select Board goal I have led has been achieved, including:
- creation of Select Board Financial Policies
- approval of the Fairbank Community Center project
- approval of the Route 20 Fire Station project
- acquisition of the former CSX rail corridor to advance the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
These accomplishments have been the result of my hard work, determination, organization, and successful partnership with the Select Board, Town staff, residents, and various other boards, committees, and commissions.
I am deeply committed to Sudbury as an elected official, resident, and parent of children in the Sudbury Public Schools. The Select Board has made significant progress, and there is more work to be done toward: Covid-19 pandemic recovery, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund distribution, Bruce Freeman Rail Trail construction, smart economic growth, Fairbank Community Center construction, Master Plan implementation, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative advancement, and explansion of actions to foster environmental sustainability. Overarching all of these is the need for excellent financial management and proactive capital planning for our town infrastructure. I will pursue these goals in a fiscally responsible manner, leveraging the Select Board's newly created Financial Policies.
I look forward to working with the Select Board and Town Manager to achieve even more for Sudbury in my next term, and I ask for your vote on Monday, March 28th so I can continue to serve you.
Please take a moment to read through my website about my work on the Select Board, professional and public service background, and positions on issues. If you have comments or questions, please reach out at robertsforsudbury@gmail.com. I want to talk with you!
Experience. Leadership. Results.
News
SEND ROBERTS BACK TO THE SELECT BOARD by Taryn Trexler
I am proud to support Jennifer Roberts in her re-election bid for Sudbury Select Board. Jen is a thoughtful, compassionate, and committed voice in town politics. Her positive energy and experience benefit us all; under her leadership the town has advanced key priorities ensuring Sudbury continues to be a great place to live, work, and visit.
Making Sudbury Sustainable
Jen's forward-looking leadership has helped focus Sudbury on becoming more sustainable and taking steps to combat climate change. She follows sustainability initiatives closely at the state level, works with our local representatives, and applies her work experience helping business and non-profits become more sustainable to projects here in Sudbury.
Advancing the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
Jen recognizes the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail's importance as a recreational amenity, community connector, and positive engine for local businesses. Jen's leadership has helped move this project forward and back on track.
Renewed & Renovated Community Center
Our family uses the Community Center for affordable summer camp, children's programming, family swim, and more. The current building is tired and in dire need of renovation, which has driven us to often seek these services at community centers in nearby towns or at pricier, private options. Through collaboration and consensus building, Jen led this project through a successful Town Meeting and ballot vote after years of failed attempts. We look forward to having a programming space that serves as a resource for all.
Respectful & Thoughtful Civic Engagement
Jen cares about good government that is respectful, responsive, and community-focused. She embodies this ethic in her collaborative approach with Select Board colleagues, constituents, town staff, and in how she runs meetings as Chair of the Select Board. As a member of two town volunteer commissions, I am continually impressed by Jen's approachability, interest in and awareness of town issues, her responsiveness to questions and concerns, and her focus on equity and inclusion. I am grateful she is stepping up for another three years of service. Please join me on March 28th in voting for Jennifer Roberts for Select Board.
—Taryn Trexler, Sudbury
SUPPORTING JENNIFER ROBERTS by Kirsten Roopenian
I am supporting Jennifer Roberts for re-election to the Select Board. She is a strong leader who has been tasked with a unforeseeable set of unique challenges, starting first with a worldwide pandemic. She managed to lead us through the COVID epidemic and all of its attendant issues, been consistently approachable, willing to tackle tough matters, and is financially precise and astute. Jennifer has often been a steady voice on the Select Board when too often disagreements became personal, she found a way to defuse and remain professional when the situation required composure and collaboration.
I could list many topics she continues to address individually, but Sudbury’s health, financially and otherwise, is paramount these days. We are in some unsettled and unpredictable times, surely, we need powerful leadership from our policy makers.
Jennifer will continue to be a strong leader who works diligently for the Town as a whole, who will find solutions for oftentimes complex issues. She does not shy away from any issue, and endeavors to work in any environment including those in which she may not agree with. Her commitment to our community is unassailable. I very much support a leader who is willing to listen and put aside personal bias in order to make decisions that will benefit Sudbury now and in the future. We are at a crossroads, time to make some hard choices and Jennifer is my choice for another term on the Select Board. I anticipate many will agree, and thank you for considering Jennifer Roberts on March 28.
Kirsten Roopenian
CHAT WITH JENNIFER ROBERTS Mon 3/14 at 12pm and Wed 3/16 at 7pm!
LET'S RE-ELECT JENNIFER ROBERTS FOR SELECT BOARD - EXPERIENCE, LEADERSHIP, & RESULTS! by Janie Dretler
I am pleased to support Jennifer Roberts for a second term on the Sudbury Select Board. Jennifer has a sincere desire for a vibrant future for all residents and has the proven ability and intelligence needed to drive toward success for Sudbury! She supports a healthy environment, sustainability, great schools, fiscal pragmatism, and protection of our treasured historic resources and open spaces.
As the current Chair of the Select Board, Jennifer demonstrates the type of leadership that allows for productive conversations without limiting anyone’s point of view. Drawing upon her professional leadership skills, Jennifer has been instrumental in guiding the Select Board forward in key issues including:
- Supporting and recommending measures to protect our community from the Covid pandemic
- Updating and improving our financial policies so the Select Board and Town staff have clear, transparent fiscal guidance
- Providing strong and vocal advocacy on behalf of seniors, recreation users and Sudbury Public School administrative staff for a new Fairbank Community Center that will serve all
- Advocating for the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail which will transform Sudbury from being a car dependent town to a walkable, bike-friendly community
- Seeking support from United States and Massachusetts state legislators for sustainability initiatives
Jennifer doesn’t shy away from making difficult decisions. In fact, she embraces challenges by working to solve problems by keeping the Board focused on a strategic direction that leads to delivering high quality results. Jennifer is a person of action, always keeping Sudbury’s long-term vision front of mind. It has been an absolute pleasure to serve with Jennifer on the Select Board these past three years.
Please join me in supporting Jennifer Roberts (robertsforsudbury.com) for another term on the Sudbury Select Board. Let's re-elect Jennifer to the Select Board for experience, leadership, and results for Sudbury. Vote YES for Jennifer Roberts on Monday, March 28!
Janie Dretler, Goodman’s Hill Road, Sudbury
IN SUPPORT OF JENNIFER ROBERTS by Len Simon
Rarely does Sudbury have the chance to vote for a person such as Jennifer Roberts. When Jen ran for the Select Board three years ago we could not know what a gem she would turn out to be. She has proven to be the ideal person to serve Sudbury.
Jen’s ability to quickly grasp the essential concepts of each issue whether it is the Fairbank Center, the rail trail, or Sewataro, and then identify the important points and present them in clear, common-sense terms, is remarkable.
In this time of continuing transition to a new town manager, her skills have been all the more valuable and critical for the wellbeing of the Town.
Jen Roberts’ patience and people skills have been tried as never before at the Select Board. She has maintained her composure in the face of name calling and outright hostility by another board member and brought the Select Board back to a level of civility that allowed it to function.
Jen Roberts has worked diligently behind the scenes with town employees and committees to keep projects moving forward. She has kept abreast of the rail trail to the point that it is ready to go before Town Meeting; the Fairbank Center to the point that it is ready to go out for construction bidding, and Sewataro to the point that a long overdue proposal for a land use study and financial analysis for the property will go before town meeting.
On her watch the Select Board’s financial policies have been updated and there has been substantial advancement toward goals. All of this has been accomplished against substantial pushback by some Select Board members.
Residents have had the opportunity to be heard at the beginning of Select Board meetings, express their views during discussions, and be treated respectfully. Jen has set a new standard for how to run a Select Board meeting.
Sudbury has much to be grateful for this past year with Jennifer Roberts serving as Select Board chair. I am more than pleased to support her for a second term. Join me in casting your vote for Jennifer Roberts.
Len Simon, Meadowbrook Circle
