Candidate Announcement: Tom Patch for Planning Board

April 21, 2023 By Tom Patch

My name is Tom Patch, and I am a candidate for the Planning Board open seat in the April 29th Hingham Town Election.

I ask you for a few moments of your day to read and consider why I am seeking the position.

Background:
Family

My family roots in Hingham Town run deep: I am a fourth generation born and raised Hinghamite. My Irish immigrant great, great grandparents Patrick and Ellen Whelan came to Hingham in the mid-1800s and established a farm where the present day Stop & Shop plaza is located.

My father, Fletcher Patch, after completing Navy service in WW 2, worked his way up to Chief of the Hingham Fire Department.

My son Neil is a graduate of both Boston College and Harvard, and currently a manager of online learning at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government – proving there is hope for gainful employment if your child or grandchild majors in philosophy.

My sister, her husband and children also reside in Hingham.

Education:
Hingham Public Schools, K-12.

I went to college at University of Maine, where I played lacrosse, and National University Galway, Ireland, where I played hurling, and law school at the University of Maine.

I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics and political science with a focus on public administration, summa cum laude, and a Juris Doctor (law) degree.

Employment:
After law school I worked for a regional law firm with my practice focus on municipal law and land use law, including provision of Town Counsel services to the Town of Kingston MA. I then became General Counsel to a multi-state real estate development and construction company.

After that I became managing partner in a different law firm, and have since transitioned to an individual law practice, all with the same municipal law and land use law focus.

Qualifications to be a highly effective Planning Board member:
Over my years of practice as an attorney I have interacted with and observed many Planning Boards across Massachusetts, including the Hingham Planning Board.

This has enabled me to obtain an invaluable knowledge base and perspective of Planning Board member responsibilities and performance, and what it takes to be a highly effective Planning Board member:
• Expertise
• Perspective
• Ingenuity
• Critical thinking
• Collaboration
• Sound judgment
• Care for community

In addition to these qualities, I am confident I possess judgment that speaks voice of reason, and deep care for the Hingham community by hearing, valuing and respecting all who have chosen to reside or work in our wonderful Town, and will contribute to composing a well-rounded Planning Board in its work to successfully address the challenges facing, and positively shape, our community today as well as in the future.

The following are “Ctrl button and click” or “web browser copy and paste” links to the three candidate forums conducted to date, as well as a Select Board meeting, in which I have participated. Each provides an opportunity to hear my thoughts on various important issues for our Hingham community:

• Hingham League of Women Voters (4/12/23, starting @26:00) https://youtu.be/pOnBWZYIPpo
• Hingham Republican Town Committee (4/2/23 starting @33:25) https://youtu.be/eEgvYOpmcnQ
• Hingham Unity Council (4/6/23 starting at 5:10) https://youtu.be/vUhelJuDXOw
• Hingham Select Board (4/13/23 starting at 1:27:50) https://youtu.be/ikMhmWElNto

Reason I am seeking election to the open Planning Board position:
Hingham has a long civic duty tradition of residents stepping forward to volunteer their time and diverse abilities to serve on Town government committees and boards for the good of the community today and in the future.

Honoring that tradition, I am stepping forward to seek the open position on the Planning Board by offering my attributes, abilities and time to serve the Hingham community as its next Planning Board member.

It would be an honor to serve as your next Planning Board member and I ask for your vote in the April 29th Town Election.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Thomas F. (“Tom”) Patch