Ruth Pereen

Political platform statement

My name is Ruth Pereen. I live on Lufkin Street with my husband Dave. I am the Vice President of Operations at a compounding pharmacy that creates medication for patients that cannot take traditional medications. When my sister passed away unexpectedly 11 years ago, my husband and I raised her children in Essex. We supported them from elementary school (EES), high school (MERHS & Essex Tech) and through adulthood, advocating for them as if they were our own.
My approach, whether it is pharmaceutical-related or town government, is to advocate for those who need it while seeking creative and careful resolutions that ensure longevity. Now, more than ever, we need to be mindful of spending, especially given our aging population. I am fiscally responsible and have proven to the community that decisions are made with a wide lens, benefiting all residents while maintaining the charm of Essex.
I have been serving on the Essex Board of Selectmen (BOS) for the last six years. I am excited to be running for a third term to continue the efforts to represent the entire community and our unique needs. Since being elected in 2019, I have helped oversee Essex achieve many of our goals. Through careful planning and forethought, my daily task is to ensure the stability of the town of Essex.
In my first term, I recognized that attending the meetings for each town department would be important to understand the inner workings of Essex. Participating in these meetings provides a depth of knowledge that is helpful to appreciate the perspectives and needs of the various departments and committees. In turn, I am able to promote the operation of the town as a unified entity rather than simply as independent segments. As a representative of our town’s “Executive Branch”, I have played a role in proposing budgets to town meetings, setting public policy, providing licensing, setting certain fees, overseeing certain volunteer and appointed bodies, creating basic regulations, managing personnel issues, and more. I take my time to thoroughly review and research all issues coming before me in these roles so that I may make informed decisions in a fair and respectful manner, working to represent all residents. In addition to my Selectman role, I also sit on the Essex Elementary School building committee, Strategic Planning Committee and Chair the Affordable Housing Trust. Additionally, I have been a volunteer at the East Boston Soup Kitchen as well as participating in the construction of several homes for Habitat for Humanity in Massachusetts.

My commitment to understanding issues has helped to lead the Board of Selectmen to:

• See the new Public Safety Building completed under budget and on time
  Coordinate the replacement of the Essex River Bridge with MA DOT (Dept. of Transportation)
• Collaborate with Cape Ann Transportation Authority to provide our senior population with special services
• Restore the Conomo Point Seawall using $1.6 million of grant money
• Negotiate two successful Host Community Agreements with BB Botanics (a local establishment) that provides the town with about $23,000 in local tax revenue to Essex each year
• Coordinate the Essex River Dredging project with the Army Corps of Engineers
• Oversee the Folsom Pavilion replacement project
• Resolve the parking along Route 133 for small business vitality
• Upgrade the Water Treatment Plant and our public water supply wells