Dear fellow Hanoverians:
Here’s another candidate profile!
Name: Steve Louko
Office Seeking: Selectman
Length of Residency: 10 years
Address: 43 King Hill Road, Hanover
Telephone #: 508-331-1400
Relevant experience:
• Hanover Conservation Commission – I serve on the Hanover Conservation
Commission in the active effort to protect our wetlands and river system,
keeping our precious ground water source clean. The work of the Commission
reduces toxins entering our aquifer and makes our drinking water cleaner
from the start. The cleanup of the Fireworks operation is ongoing and as
Selectman I will continue to ask the hard questions we need answers to.
• Hanover Community Preservation Committee – I am involved in the
effort to complete our section of the Hanover Branch Rail Trail, and
drafted portions of our DCR MassTrails Grant application. The Hanover
Branch Rail Trail will allow Hanover residents to walk, run, and bike
across multiple towns on a safe paved path off of main roads with
convenient parking so all can access it. I also wrote the application for
funding that Town Meeting will be able to consider this year to use CPA
funds to keep the Sylvester High School building as a municipal building.
Current Selectmen have voted to sell it for private development. I promise
I will vote to keep it.
• Hanover Master Plan Implementation Committee – Residents created the
Hanover 300 Master Plan in 2018 as resource to help us make smart decisions
that community members believe in. I believe in preserving our town’s
natural resources, history, and heritage and as Selectman I will be an
advocate for the Master Plan and the dedicated community members that
created its vision.
• Hanover Affordable Housing Trust – Board Member – Housing prices
and real estate taxes have risen at an increasing rate. As a Trust board
member I have advocated for programs that help to keep housing affordable
for residents in need. I voted to raise the limits on tax relief for
eligible seniors and veterans and support using our town’s housing funds
to help home owners who need it.
As a professional I have a background as an accountant preparing financial
statements and operating budgets, and work in construction and real estate
sales. I have a Business degree from Saint Anselm College where I attended
as a Presidential Scholar, and have since completed graduate coursework in
Capital Budgeting and Real Estate Finance and Investment. My experiences
in construction contracting throughout New England have given me
perspective on our town. I’ve seen what other municipalities in
different states have done to complement their history and environment with
strong infrastructure to make their location special. Hanover is special.
My wife and I chose Hanover to raise our two daughters here. Making the
right decisions on issues important to the town is important to my family
and yours.
Major issues:
Major issues confronting the town which will involve my position on the
Board of Selectmen are our water, the cleanup of the National Fireworks
operation, pursuing policies that strengthen the financial health of the
town while reducing the burden on taxpayers, the development of the Hanover
Branch Rail Trail, the need for senior housing and economic development,
and strengthening the operation of our schools.
• We must take every effort to deliver clean, clear water in Hanover. I
plan to continue my efforts to protect our water, and make sure we have
enough quantity of good quality water delivered to our residents.
• The Fireworks cleanup has taken too long and Hanover has been the
victim of negligence and neglect there. On the Board of Selectmen, I will
continue to ask hard questions that Hanover deserves answers to and get
that site cleaned.
• We have opportunities to fund important projects outside of the regular
operating budget. CPA and other state matching funds are available and as
Selectman I will continue to pursue those funds for Hanover while cutting
unnecessary expenses.
• We have great opportunities to enjoy the outdoors here. A rail trail
will offer that opportunity to the handicapped, elderly, and anyone who
wants to enjoy nature on a safe flat paved surface away from traffic. The
Hanover Branch Rail Trail will need the support of Selectmen to be
completed and as Selectman I will advocate for it.
• The decision on what to do with Sylvester High is a pivotal choice
affecting our town’s historic development pattern. There are better
locations for housing in town and we should preserve that historic school
campus.
Why are you running for this office?
I am running for this office because I want to bring diligent effort,
common sense, and open conversation to the board. We are coming out of a
very trying time as the Covid pandemic ends. Fortunately tax revenue has
been steady for Hanover, but we still have much work to do within tight
budgets. Our town has so many good things to come and I want to represent
the people of Hanover to help make them happen. I believe local government
is about bringing people together for a collaborative approach to make
informed decisions. We are a country town with a wonderful history,
beautiful natural environment, and a thriving commercial district. On the
Board of Selectmen I will work to preserve our town’s heritage and help
advance our future.
For “Around Town on the Web”,
Cathy H-B
—
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