Let me preface this letter by stating that there are two terrific women running in the race for Select Board. I know both well and appreciate their dedication to Lexington and the sacrifices they make to choose to run and to serve.
Endorsing in municipal elections is not something I generally do, but I’m supporting Jill because in my previous role on the Select Board I served side by side with her. From my personal experience, Jill Hai is a phenomenal local leader.
I’m endorsing Jill because she is an intelligent, dynamic, thoughtful, vivacious, energetic, diligent local official. She rolls up her sleeves and gets involved in the nitty gritty, having the bandwidth and capacity to do the deep dive into complex policy. She is personable and approachable. She makes people around her feel welcome and heard. She listens carefully and is tremendously thoughtful, weighing issues from multiple perspectives. She has the whole community in mind when making tough decisions.
Jill has had extensive and varied experiences, including years on the Capital Expenditures Committee, many of them as Chair, gaining a critical understanding of the Town’s finances. And she has led and convened complex task forces which required patience and diplomacy to bring convergent groups to the table. Jill is a consensus builder and a great collaborator.
This past year, I have watched Jill on a broader stage as President of the Mass Municipal Association (an organization on whose Board I once served). At the MMA she had to oversee the national search for the organization’s new Executive Director, and a superstar was selected through that process. The MMA works to ensure our cities and towns are functioning at their best. This is something unique that she brings to the table - she’s been able to engage and bring back best practices from the Commonwealth through her work with the MMA, while sharing Lexington’s local-grown expertise state-wide.
When Jill is involved, she naturally improves any organization and makes it better. She’s a thoughtful, strategic, hardworking leader who builds consensus and strengthens the overall community management. I appreciate all that Jill has done for Lexington, and I endorse her for another term on the Select Board.
Michelle Ciccolo
Shade St
State Representative, 15th Middlesex District
This Letter originally appeared in The Lexington Observer on February 21, 2024
