Scott Memhard Ward I Candidate letter

Dear Friends, Neighbors, Ward I Residents & Voters:

My name is Scott Memhard, and I am a candidate seeking your support and vote to represent Ward I on Gloucester City Council. My wife Martha Oaks was born here, and I have lived in Gloucester since 1983. We have three grown kids, Ian, Larry and Marie, who attended East Gloucester Elementary School, played local sports, graduated college, and bless us by still living and working nearby. I am a graduate of Amherst College and Endicott College Business Leadership Institute

I bring a broad, balanced perspective to represent our Ward. I enjoy working with people, listening to different views, and have a good head on my shoulders. I value the unique beauty of our neighborhood, the quality of education in our schools, our City’s artistic & cultural richness, and the importance of our municipal infrastructure and services. I believe in constructive, civil process in public life. I have limited patience for unnecessary bureaucracy, waste and nonsense.

As President & General Manager of Cape Pond Ice Company for more than 30 years, I have weathered many challenges confronting Gloucester’s groundfish industry, harbor planning & land use, and the local political scene. My civic experience, current and past, includes:

• Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Library, Director & Board President

• Cape Ann Commercial Fishermen’s Loan Fund; Gloucester Fisheries Commission

• Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, Director & President of the Board, Government Affairs; 1995 Gloucester Small Business Person of the Year

• Maritime Gloucester; Phyllis A. Marine Association, Boards of Directors

• Cape Ann Savings Bank, Corporator since 1993

• Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, Director, Board Chair, Treasurer & Building Restoration Co-Chair

• Leap for Education – Gloucester High School college counseling; O’Maley Junior Achievement, Gloucester, Rockport & Manchester-Essex High School DECA

  I hope for the opportunity to serve you and Ward I, and look forward to hearing your ideas and concerns about the future of our City. The next years will see thoughtful progress for the Fuller site, Cameron’s downtown housing project, strengthening Grace Center services, & new mixed industrial, marine technology, recreational & tourism development on our harbor. We must support our schools & investment in the quality of our children’s education, community public safety, as well as deal resourcefully with chronic challenges of beach traffic, trash, snow removal & street repairs. We have an incredibly beautiful seaside City; let’s work together with “Gloucester Pride” to take care of it!