Bulian great choice in difficult fiscal times
John Bulian would be a great choice for the Needham Board of Selectmen anytime, but especially in this difficult fiscal time, we should be certain we re-elect John to the board. Throughout John’s six-year tenure on the board, he has exhibited time and again the necessary strength and integrity to identify the most important aspects of an issue. He then works tirelessly to assess the needs of the town and those of its townspeople to find options in determining the best course of action. It seems being a Selectman, or any elected town official for that matter, can be a thankless undertaking at times. Every decision made will have its detractors. As the parent of a third-grade student, and a citizen of the USA, I am very interested in the work we do to ensure our children get the best education possible. Many parents wish we would do more. When I listen to John talk about why he takes the positions he does on issues, it is clear to me that his positions are well considered, taking into account the consequences of the Board’s actions for all our townspeople. For instance, the decision to push construction of the new high school ahead of some other very necessary school projects did not sit well with a lot of people affected by the inevitable delays. However, the town now has a new, well-regarded high school at a fraction of the cost some of our neighboring towns will have to endure. When consideration of Ridge Hill as a Senior Center location was met with less-than-rousing support, John didn’t back away from the need for a center and has worked to provide realistic alternative options. These are the high visibility issues. John uses the same approach on the more mundane, but no less important, issues the town faces on a regular basis. We have some big, complex issues facing us over the near term. John’s record proves he will do everything in his ability to help Needham maintain the qualities that make it such a wonderful place to live. Maintaining the strength of our schools, working toward providing a more meaningful environment for seniors and sustaining the fiscal strength Needham has had for so long. The challenges ahead are manageable with the proper stewardship. John Bulian will be a strong part of seeing Needham through these times and, with your support, many more to come.
Wally Johnston
Highgate Street

Bulian and Handel demonstrated outstanding commitment
We are enthusiastically supporting Maurice “Moe” Handel and John Bulian in their Selectmen campaigns! Moe and John have demonstrated outstanding commitment to all members of our community, from the students in our exceptional schools, to parents who value all that our town has to offer, and to the older residents who need better services. They have both served on numerous appointed and elected boards and committees. Most notably, John has been a Selectman for six years, and Moe is the longest serving Planning Board member. They are visionaries who have been involved with the successful completion of many large projects. John led campaigns for the renovations of the Eliot and Broadmeadow schools, and Moe was a leader in the relocation of the Needham Historical Society. They are dedicated to working on Needham’s long-term future needs, including the renovation of Town Hall, the development of a new Senior Center and the challenges presented by aging school buildings. Needham is fortunate to have such highly qualified and dedicated candidates for Selectmen. We urge you to vote for Moe Handel and John Bulian on April 14.
Kim Marie Nicols and Cliff Hayden
Crescent Road

Re-elect Bulian
I am very happy to write a personal endorsement on behalf of selectman John Bulian for re-election. I encourage you to use one of your two selectman votes to re-elect John Bulian. I was first introduced to John over 10 years ago. I was a parent with young children and he called to ask for my support on the Broadmeadow/Eliot project. I was appalled at the dilapidated and overcrowded state of those two school buildings at that time. John’s enthusiasm was contagious and his call got me involved. John has a history of bringing people together for community improvement. Not only has John been instrumental in laying the groundwork for school-related projects, he has also been a front-runner in the crusade to establish a viable senior center that best meets the needs of seniors. John brings vast experience to the Board of Selectman. As an incumbent, he possesses the knowledge necessary to make sound decisions. Our country and our community will face some of the greatest challenges in generations. Needham needs leaders who are both educated on issues and who have worked on a wide range of town programs. John will continue to bring both an educated and enthusiastic perspective to government with a focus on growth and opportunity. He has worked and advocated for the people in several capacities in town government and other community service. Join me in voting for John Bulian on April 14, a solid secure voice for all Needham’s citizens.
Maureen Chamoun
Fox Hill Road

Bulian brings voice of experience
Two seats on the Board of Selectman are being voted on this April, and the board will add a second new member in two years because of an open seat. To work alongside our newest selectmen, I urge you to join me in voting to re-elect John Bulian to keep his experience on the board. As a selectman, John has worked on a wide range of issues from senior tax relief and a new Senior Center to new school buildings. He was a strong supporter of the high school project that will cost Needham about one-half to one-third of what other towns are now expecting to pay per student for their aging high schools. He has also worked on improving the permitting process in town, and had been active on the solid waste advisory committee, where he promoted policies that have helped make Needham a top recycling community in the state. He has also served in many community service roles outside government from the Needham Business Association to coaching sports. Last fall, John took the initiative to bring the Vietnam Wall that Heals to Needham. He made the contacts and chaired a special committee; for this, he was singled out by U.S. Rep. Lynch at the last Town Meeting for his role in bringing this moving exhibit to Needham — the only stop in Massachusetts since 2006. John is a small businessman. He understands the difficulties of the current business climate and the challenges that people face, the value of making smart investments, the importance of saving expenses and spending wisely, and the need to keep rules and regulations reasonable to maintain a good business climate. John’s many roles in town government and other town service, along with his willingness to listen to different sides of issues, make him a valuable asset to Needham. Please vote to re-elect John Bulian on April 14.
Michael Diener
Kenney Street

Bulian advocates for residents
I’m writing to suggest that people use one of their two selectman votes to re-elect John Bulian. My experience with John during his time as selectman is that he is committed, accessible, reasonable, and thoughtful. He is also one of those rare individuals that always have a smile on their face. John has been a great sounding board on many issues from the schools to the hospital to the fields. As one of the neighbors of the hospital, we have had some issues with construction traffic and parking as you can imagine. John came to a meeting of a few neighbors recently and listened to our issues. He was very reasonable and helped us to understand how the town works and where we could find solutions. In at least one case, he then advocated on our behalf. Taking nothing away from the other excellent candidates, John is an excellent selectman and should be re-elected on April 14.
Bill Paulson
School Street

Bulian voice of experience
For a while, it looked like the upcoming election for the Board of Selectmen would be a non-event with two well-liked incumbents, Jim Healy and John Bulian, running for re-election. But after Healy decided not to run, three newcomers jumped into the race. It’s wonderful that we are going have some new blood and fresh ideas on the board, but it also means that experience will be even more in demand. That’s why I urge Needham voters to re-elect John Bulian. John has already served on the board for six years, and in that time he has helped make sure we have the school space we need for our kids, the town services we all rely on and a tax burden that’s lower than surrounding towns. Lately, he’s been working hard on the new senior center, the town hall renovation compromise, and scrutinizing the town’s budget priorities for the coming tough times when state aid is expected to decline. As a Town Meeting member, as a parent with three kids in the Needham schools and as taxpayer, I’m glad we have John Bulian on the Board of Selectmen. So on April 14, let’s make sure we have him there for another three years.
Aaron Pressman
South Street

 

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