Bob Vincent for Wakefield Town Council

I took the oath of office for Town Council this morning. My parents, Bob and Fedela, and my wife, Tracy, were by my side. I was delighted they were able to share this milestone event with me.

Folks, I am truly honored to be elected to the Wakefield Town Council. Today, 2239 fellow residents expressed their confidence in me. I will strive to honorably serve our town every day.

Election Day is tomorrow. See you all at the polls.

Two months ago, I introduced myself to you when I announced my candidacy for the Wakefield Town Council. Personally, I told you that I have been married to my wife, Tracy, for 33 years and we have two children, Robby and Leslie, and our daughter-in-law, Allison. Professionally, I informed you that I am a retired Navy Commander, attorney and Appellate Judge.

Next, I submitted four reasons why I was running for Town Council.

First, I described my extensive volunteer endeavors in Wakefield since 2014 and noted they have brought into clear focus my appreciation of local issues.

Second, I noted that my extensive Navy legal career honed my judicial temperament, consensus building skills and policy development abilities. I informed you that they comprise a skillset that will strengthen the Town Council’s ability to function as our chief executive office and policy making agency.

Third, I informed you that I am 61 years old and a veteran with a military service connected disability. I suggested that the Town Council is in a better position to address the difficulties, issues and priorities for all Wakefield residents when its composition includes a large cross section of the population.

Fourth, I shared my opinion that we should strive as a community to ensure that all candidates for local office enjoy a civil and respectful campaign experience. I noted that, at the end of the day, we are simply Wakefield residents, not professional politicians, sharing a common goal to serve our community.

Now, I would like to share with you how I prepared to serve on Town Council after I made the decision to run for office. I purposefully decided to operate an old-fashioned, self-funded, low budget campaign. Throughout February and early March, I personally met, or spoke with, most of Wakefield’s Department Heads and the Chairs of Boards, Committees and Commissions. I wanted to obtain a thorough understanding of their roles, responsibilities, issues and needs.

On social and print media, I wrote position papers on our Zoning Bylaws, the 2030 Master Plan, American Rescue Plan Act funds, and Town Meeting.

On March 4, I embarked on a journey (with Tracy by my side) to visit the homes of 1,000 fellow Wakefield residents. I wanted to personally introduce myself, answer questions and provide reasons why I want to be a member of Town Council. I enjoyed many engaging conversations about a variety of town-related issues with hundreds of voters. I strived to provide an answer to any question posed to me. Frequently, residents reached out to me after I visited their home. On a couple of occasions, we met for coffee in order to continue our earlier discussions.
On April 14, Tracy and I visited our 1,000th home.

My dedicated supporters, both family and friends, wrote a steady stream of letters of support in local publications throughout April. I am truly humbled by their words of praise and testaments to my character. Many others forwarded Dear Friend cards and/or displayed lawn signs publically expressing their support for me. I was highly motivated by their collective belief in me every single day during the campaign.

Time is our most valuable commodity. I am retired and our two children are adults. Candidly, I have some caregiving responsibilities for Tracy and my parents. But, rest assured, if elected, I will be able to devote considerable time every day towards serving Wakefield.

I recognize that I will be one of seven people representing over 27,000 fellow residents if you elect me to Town Council. It will be my most significant professional challenge since I served as an Appellate Judge. I stand ready to accept the serious responsibility of serving on the Town Council, if you deem me worthy.

I respectfully ask for your vote on Tuesday, April 26th.

Sincerely,
Bob Vincent

If you missed the Town Council Candidatea Forum, you can watch it here.

2022 Town Council Candidates Forum 2022 Town Council Candidates Forum

In my February Town Council Campaign Announcement letter, I noted that our town officials and support staff have ensured that critical Town functions remained operable during a global pandemic. I explained that, similarly, immediately after 9/11, I was assigned to work at the Pentagon on the Navy’s Continuity of Operations Program. It ensured the Navy’s mission essential functions continued uninterrupted during national emergencies.

Now, I am providing an example of how I am well positioned to assist the town, if elected, during our pandemic recovery.

Wakefield has been allocated approximately $8M in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal government funds to be distributed through December 2024. The Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has compiled rules and regulations designed to ensure Massachusetts cities and towns properly distribute their ARPA funds.

The Town Council will ultimately be responsible for distributing our ARPA funds. Between 2011 and 2013, I was assigned to the Navy Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps Inspector General’s (IG) Office. As a former member of an IG staff, I have the skill sets to assist in the review of applicable Massachusetts OIG rules and regulations to help ensure that the Town Council appropriately distributes Wakefield’s ARPA funds.

I am also using this public forum to discuss my thoughts on encouraging more participation at Town Meeting.

Wakefield's legislative powers are exercised at Town Meeting, which is open to all registered voters. It is the purest form of democratic governing. Town Meeting is our time honored opportunity to gather as a community and chart the direction of our town.

There are approximately 20,000 registered voters in Wakefield. Prior to the pandemic, 200-300 voters (and sometimes less) participated at Town Meeting. That means 1% to 1.5% of our legislative body made critical and long lasting decisions affecting our town, including approving the annual Town budget, appropriations of money, and Charter and Bylaw changes.
To put this into perspective, it is the equivalent of one or two United States Senators out of 100 or five to seven Congressman out of 435 casting a vote.

I believe our town officials do an impressive job of providing us the date of, as well as the warrant articles to be addressed at, Town Meeting. Additionally, the Town of Wakefield's website contains a New Resident Resources link. This link references the Town Charter in describing that legislative powers are exercised at an open Town Meeting.

But, rather than simply referencing the Town Charter, we should also provide basic Town Meeting guidance, especially for new residents (both those from out of state and from Massachusetts cities) and current residents, who have not recently attended a Town Meeting. Topics should include a description of Town Meeting, how it operates - warrant articles, Town Moderator presides, how to vote, speak, propose amendments, how are votes taken and how many votes are required, etc.

Prior to the pandemic, Wakefield 101 was a New Resident Open House held at the Beebe Library. When it reconvenes, I suggest Town officials, perhaps including Town Council members, should provide written guidance to attendees and answer basic questions concerning Town Meeting.

Additionally, Town officials could consult with WCAT and explore the possibility of creating a Town Meeting informational program. Finally, a Wakefield resident recently suggested to me that Town officials could possibly hold a short session a few minutes before Town Meeting to describe the process to interested residents.

Bob Vincent

Thank you, Cindy!

We’re in the homestretch, folks.

Letter from my daughter-in-law Allison.

Support Bob Vincent Because He Wants to Support You

I had the great honor of joining the Vincent family on October 16th, 2021, when I married Leslie Vincent, Bob’s daughter. Taking on the Vincent name was a point of pride for me. Bob has always been a font of support both for myself and his two adult children, Robby and Leslie. That support was extended to me when Bob and Tracy welcomed me into their family with open arms. It is this spirit of generosity and fidelity that I feel makes Bob Vincent an ideal candidate for Wakefield Town Council.

I spend my days teaching high school English to juniors and seniors in Minneapolis, MN. In addition to convincing my students that they can write well and that reading is cool, I dedicate a portion of my curriculum to demystifying the prospect of adulthood looming just around the bend. A favorite text that I share with students is Kelly Williams Brown’s Adulting. The book covers several topics that young people may have questions about including domesticity, “faking it till you make it,” getting a job, and, the first topic of the book, “Get Your Mind Right.”

In this chapter, Brown’s first step towards adulthood is “Accept that you are not that special.” This can be rather dismaying news to teenagers. The author goes on to reassure the reader that there are some exceptional people in all of our lives where this is not the case. We each have those select individuals who deeply believe in us and want us to succeed- our “personal flag-bearers” as the author calls them. These folks generally include parents, friends, favorite teachers/coaches/religious leaders, and significant others. These people are rare treasures to be cherished.

So. What does this have to do with the Wakefield Town Council election? I posit that Bob Vincent has the unusual gift of deeply and fiercely believing in people. He does this regardless of whether or not these folks are related to him, share his political views, come from different backgrounds, or root for a team other than the Red Sox. Bob has the grace and maturity to gaze past a person’s differences and see what makes them special. I know he believes in Wakefield and will approach serving its citizens with the same passion he bestows upon his friends and family.

Bob loves this town. A naturally intelligent and curious man, he’s enthusiastically gotten to know so many of his neighbors and fellow citizens and has become a dedicated member of various clubs, organizations, and charities. He invests his time and energy in his relationships and I have no doubt that his investment in the council will result in significant gains for the community.

I have experienced this dedication and care first hand and it has enhanced my life for the better. When it became clear that I was serious about dating his daughter, Bob began investing in me too. He got to know me, shared holidays with me, gave sound advice, and assured me that I would always have him and his father Bob Sr. to lean on after the passing of my dad in 2019. This sort of unrequited kindness, love, and generosity of spirit is rare in the world we live in today and was a tremendous comfort to me during such a sad time. After marrying Leslie, I gained a father-in-law, but ever since meeting Bob, I’ve had a most wonderful “flag-bearer” and friend.

I encourage you to get to know Bob Vincent for yourself, invest in him, and cast your vote for him on April 26th.

Sincerely,

Allison Vincent

Thank you, John!

Thank you, David!

Thank you so much, Jennifer.