Liz Klein Announces Candidacy for Board of Selectmen

January 26, 2021, Submitted by Liz Klein, Candidate for Board of Selectmen

Many people ask why I would choose this year to seek election. The easy answer is that I love Hingham and want to serve our community. But it’s more than that. The past year has been very difficult for most of us due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. It has exposed so many flaws in our systems. I am seeking the privilege of serving in a significant role in town government to address these flaws and to tackle the many challenges we face, from recovering from Covid-19 to the ongoing threat of climate change. One of our biggest issues will be balancing the level of services our citizens expect and deserve with the available funding sources, while at the same time maintaining our AAA bond rating. As part of Hingham’s Master Plan Committee, I have had direct exposure to the issues facing our town as well as the opportunities we can pursue over the next 10 to 15 years.

Since moving to Hingham fifteen years ago, I have been an active participant and leader in the community. My town experience includes service on the Hingham Master Plan Committee (Board of Selectmen Appointee), Hingham Downtown Association (Executive Director), Hingham’s 375^th Anniversary Committee, the Hingham Women’s Club (President, Treasurer), South School PTO (Secretary, Fundraising Chair), School Council, Hingham Newcomers Board (Social Chair), and the Hingham Education Foundation (Communications Director). My other volunteer experience encompasses work with organizations such as South Shore Conservatory, Hingham Food Pantry, Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore, South Shore Stars, Hingham Youth Soccer, and Cradles to Crayons.

As a member of the Hingham Master Plan Committee, I have had the honor of working with citizen leaders from the Recreation Commission, School Committee, Board of Appeals, Conservation Commission, Affordable Housing Trust, Board of Health, Harbor Development Committee, Development and Industrial Committee, and the Historic Districts Commission. For the past 18 months, I have researched, discussed, and prioritized the goals and actions outlined in the Hingham Master Plan. The depth and breadth of this knowledge coupled with many hours spent eliciting feedback from Hingham citizens will enable me to hit the ground running as a member of the Board of Selectmen.

My extensive experience and collaborative leadership style will benefit both the Board of Selectmen and our town. While recovering from the pandemic is an immediate challenge, over the long term my children and their education have been and will continue to be my passion. I’m confident I can have a positive impact on the relationship between the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee. The Hingham Public Schools are one of our greatest assets, and we must sustain their excellence while also supporting our children academically, socially, and emotionally. I commit to approaching our town’s challenges with a focus on what is best for all of Hingham.

After graduating from the University of Richmond with a BSBA in Finance, my career began as a financial services consultant at Accenture working with Fortune 500 clients. Over the past 20 years, I have worked on projects of all sizes in strategic planning, corporate education, marketing strategy, and human resources. Throughout my volunteer and professional experience, I have a strong track record of working well with people who hold different perspectives to achieve common goals.

Hingham is my family’s home. We feel fortunate to be part of this wonderful community. We also feel we should give back to a community that has opened its arms to us. My husband Scott and I are raising our two children, both students at Hingham Middle School, to understand that civic responsibility and active participation in the community are integral components of Hingham’s success. It is these deeply held values that motivate me to step up and seek election this year. I look forward to the opportunity to hear from all of you during this campaign and to earning your vote. Please contact me at liz@4hingham.com and follow my campaign on Facebook and Instagram for more details.