Letter from Phil McQueen: Gallagher will prioritize strategic and thoughtful planning

To the Editor:

I am writing in support of Joe Gallagher’s candidacy for the Lynnfield Select Board

because of the role I believe thoughtful planning, clear communication, and respectful

collaboration must play in our town’s next chapter.

As Lynnfield confronts longterm decisions around capital planning, infrastructure, and

municipal services, residents deserve greater visibility into how those decisions are

made and when meaningful input can occur. Joe’s candidacy is grounded in improving

how the town plans for the future, communicating with residents, and collaborating

across volunteer boards and departments. Lynnfield needs to focus on continuous

improvement and not just settle for how we've always done things.

Joe brings relevant and substantial local experience to the Select Board’s upcoming

work. As a member of the Finance Committee, he has developed an understanding of

how Lynnfield manages public funds and balances competing priorities. As a Library

Trustee, he helps oversee the Library Director and reviews regular updates on

operations and budgets. He also collaborated with fellow trustees to establish

Lynnfield’s first Trustee Rules & Regulations and a formal Library Director

Evaluation—important governance tools that brought greater clarity and accountability

to that role.

Additionally, Joe has consistently shown a willingness to step up as a town volunteer.

He previously served as Director of Communications for the SSS PTO, coordinating

messaging and collaborating closely with board members and committee chairs. He

currently volunteers as Treasurer for the Lynnfield Art Guild. What these roles have in

common is a focus on organization, transparency, and cooperation—qualities that

matter on the Select Board.

Joe’s professional background further strengthens his candidacy. He led a project

management department at a digital agency, where he managed client relationships,

oversaw teams, and coordinated multiple projects and budgets simultaneously. His

career has centered on converting complex information into understandable formats

and building consensus among people with differing perspectives. Those skills translate

directly to municipal leadership, where progress often requires collaboration rather than

top-down pre-decided decisions.

Joe is also deeply rooted in the community as a stayathome dad with three daughters in

the Lynnfield school system. He has shown up consistently—whether through

volunteering, attending community events, or supporting moments that matter across

Lynnfield. What people show up for, or don’t, makes a difference and shows their values

and what they support. Representation begins with listening, and Joe has demonstrated

that he is willing to engage with residents even when viewpoints differ.

New faces bring fresh perspectives and help ensure continuous improvement.

Voting for Joe is a vote for strategic and thoughtful planning for Lynnfield’s future.

Voting for Joe is a vote for better and more transparent communication between the

Select Board and the community with greater visibility to residents about any upcoming

major decision points.

Voting for Joe is a vote for respectful collaboration with other residents and volunteer

boards in town.

In light of the recent racist incidents at the middle school, we need leaders who will

show up and demand change, not just hope that the issue will go away. The response

to these outrageous racist events (at the time of writing this letter) from our town

leadership has largely been non- existent (the Select Board) or weak (the majority of the

School Committee). Joe is a leader who will take a stand and demand action and bring

about change.

I urge the Lynnfield community to join me and vote for Joe Gallagher for Select Board

on Tuesday, April 14.

Sincerely,

Phil McQueen