Dear fellow Hanoverians:<\/p>\n
Below please find James Hoyes’ candidate information sheet. Mr. Hoyes is
\nrunning for one of the two open three-year terms on the Select Board.
\nThere are two candidates for the two open seats, so he is unopposed,
\ndespite the fact that there is another candidate for Select Board.<\/p>\n
“Candidate: James E. Hoyes
\nOffice Seeking: Select Board
\nAddress: 56 Stone Meadow Lane, Hanover, MA, 02339
\nTelephone Number: 781-308-9247
\nEmail: jim@HoyesForHanover.com
\nLength of Residency: 22 years<\/p>\n
Relevant Experience: I have served the Town of Hanover in both volunteer
\nand professional capacities since 2015, including my current role as
\nDirector of Budgeting and Financial Strategy since October 2024. As a
\nvolunteer, I spent more than six years on the Advisory Committee and two
\nyears representing Hanover on the MBTA Advisory Board, where I also served
\non the Operating Budget, Capital Budget, and Ferry Services subcommittees.
\nThe Select Board also appointed me to support key short-term initiatives,
\nincluding recommending an investment firm for the Town\u2019s OPEB Trust Fund
\nand assisting in the Town Manager selection process. In the community, I
\nremain actively involved with the First Congregational Church of Hanover,
\nwhere I have served as Finance Chair and Moderator and currently serve as
\nTreasurer.
\nProfessionally, I bring over 40 years of experience in the pharmaceutical
\nand healthcare sectors, including senior executive roles across multiple
\nfunctions and serving as President and Head of U.S. Operations for EMD
\nSerono, the U.S. subsidiary of Merck Serono. I have also served on the
\nboards of major industry organizations, including PhRMA, MassBIO, and the
\nBIO (Health Section Governing Board), and spent several years in healthcare
\nstrategy as an Executive Partner in a consulting firm. These experiences
\nprovide me with a clear understanding of how the public, private, and
\ngovernment sectors intersect. Through these roles, I have led complex
\norganizations, built high-performing teams, managed large-scale
\ninitiatives, and delivered results.
\nIn summary, I offer a proven track record in leadership, finance,
\noperations, and collaboration, combined with a deep understanding of
\nHanover\u2019s municipal government. I am prepared to leverage this experience
\nto help the Town navigate its priorities and challenges over the next 3\u20135
\nyears.<\/p>\n
Major Issues: Over the past several years, much of the focus has been on
\nfinances, budgets, and the 2025 override. That override vote was a critical
\nfirst step as it helped stabilize service levels and provided breathing
\nroom to strengthen the Town\u2019s long-term financial strategy. But the work
\nis not done. Hanover still faces difficult choices as we balance service
\nlevels, affordability, and sustainability \u2026 particularly as we work
\ntoward fully funding our pension obligations by FY31.
\nAt the same time, building a strong community requires more than sound
\nbudgeting. It also requires a focus on people, quality of life, and
\nlong-term stewardship of the Town\u2019s resources. Beyond the annual
\noperating budget, Hanover faces several key priorities that demand
\nattention. These are the groupings of issues I will focus on and the type
\nof actions I will champion as a Select Board member:
\nBringing Hanover Together
\n\u2022\tWhile not a policy issue, this is a leadership tone I would like to set
\nas a Select Board member. After several years of difficult budget decisions
\nand override debates, our community has experienced growing division and
\npartisanship even in roles meant to be non-partisan, like the Select Board.
\nAs we approach Hanover\u2019s 300-year anniversary, we have an opportunity to
\nreset the tone. I am committed to fostering respectful dialogue, rebuilding
\ntrust, and focusing on what unites us as a community. Our town has many
\nchallenges to address, and we need to minimize external distractions from
\nthe task at hand.
\nCore Infrastructure and Financial Planning
\n\u2022\tProviding Clean Water & a Reliable Water Supply: The Water Enterprise
\nmust address PFAS challenges, upgrade Hanover\u2019s three treatment plants,
\nand continue to invest in aging water main replacements while also
\ndeveloping a long-term water supply strategy that supports residents,
\nbusinesses, and responsible growth.
\n\u2022\tStructuring Capital Investment Requirements: Maintaining and
\nmodernizing schools, municipal buildings, and infrastructure through
\ndisciplined long-term planning is outlined in the Town\u2019s new 10-year
\nCapital Investment Plan. This requires a careful balance between usage of
\ndebt, free cash, retained earnings, and stabilization funds. It will also
\nrequire forward-looking thinking to capture timing, costs, and property tax
\nimpacts of major construction projects.
\n\u2022\tStrengthening Revenue Growth: With limited \u201cNew Growth\u201d available
\nunder Proposition 2\u00bd constraints, Select Board advocacy for smart growth
\nconcepts, including support of local business growth, is essential. At the
\nsame time, we must actively manage key revenue sources such as meals tax,
\nmotor vehicle excise, investment income, and fees to offset the expense
\nside of budgeting.
\nQuality of Life
\n\u2022\tSupporting Seniors: I believe Hanover must better align resources to
\nmeet the needs of its growing senior population. The findings from the
\nNeeds Assessment looking at Aging in Hanover, conducted by the Gerontology
\nInstitute at UMass Boston, highlights several key issues including
\nsupporting aging in place initiatives, expanding housing options for
\nseniors, enhancing social engagement programming, and addressing health
\nimpacts caused by issues such as isolation and loneliness.
\n\u2022\tProtecting the Environment: Advancing the fireworks site cleanup in
\ncoordination with state and federal partners is critical to Hanover\u2019s
\nenvironmental footprint. Equally important is protecting and maintaining
\nthe existing network of open spaces and trail systems. In order to further
\nbuild on a long-standing commitment to the environment, the town needs to
\nbetter leverage our Green Community status to secure annual grants, expand
\nsolar opportunities, reduce energy costs, and lower our long-term carbon
\nfootprint. This needs to be done overtime with realistic, affordable, and
\nmeasurable goals.
\nOperational Excellence
\n\u2022\tFocusing on IT & Technology: Building a modern, secure, and efficient
\ntechnology framework is essential. This includes strengthening
\ncybersecurity, updating policies (including the use of AI), clarifying
\nleasing versus purchasing decisions, and actively managing hardware
\nlifecycles. Artificial Intelligence platforms may present an opportunity to
\nimprove efficiency and enhance how the Town interacts with residents and
\nbusinesses. To jump-start this initiative, I support relaunching the
\nTechnology Committee with a clear, updated mandate.
\n\u2022\tSupporting Continuous Improvement: We must always strive to improve.
\nTown staff and elected and appointed officials must critically evaluate
\ncompleted projects to ensure taxpayer dollars were spent wisely, identify
\nwhat worked well and should become best practice, and address what did not
\n\u2026 all in a transparent manner.
\nFinally, we must responsibly manage our long-term liabilities which
\nincludes a mix of existing debt, Plymouth County Retirement payments, and
\nOPEB obligations. This approach will require financial discipline,
\nlong-term planning, and maintaining a strong bond rating with agencies such
\nas Moody’s Investors Service. And it will require a firm commitment not to
\npush these multi-million-dollar costs onto the next generation.<\/p>\n
Why I am Running for the Select Board: I have proudly called Hanover home
\nsince 2004. For more than two decades, this community has been where I have
\nraised my family, built my career, and formed lasting friendships. Hanover
\nis a special place, and it is a community worth protecting for the future.
\nLike many other South Shore communities, Hanover faces real challenges,
\nparticularly around affordability, budgeting, and long-term financial
\nsustainability. I am running for Select Board because I want to help our
\ntown navigate these challenges thoughtfully and responsibly, and in a way
\nthat preserves the character and quality of life that makes Hanover such a
\nwonderful place to live.
\nProfessionally, I bring decades of leadership experience in the
\nbiopharmaceutical industry, where I led a large organization and later
\nadvised companies on complex strategic decisions. That background has
\ninstilled a solid foundation in problem-solving, accountability, and
\nresults-driven leadership. Locally, I have spent seven years serving on the
\nAdvisory Committee, participated in multiple ad hoc committees, represented
\nHanover on the MBTA Advisory Board, and most recently worked as a Finance
\nDepartment consultant for the town. In that role, I have been directly
\ninvolved in developing budget proposals, shaping long-term financial
\nstrategies, supporting capital planning, and improving debt management.
\nThis combination of professional experience and local involvement gives me
\na clear, practical understanding of the decisions ahead, especially over
\nthe next 3\u20135 years.
\nMy focus as a Select Board member will be simple:
\n\u2022\tSet clear priorities.
\n\u2022\tMake disciplined, transparent decisions.
\n\u2022\tWork collaboratively with residents, businesses, and town leadership.
\n\u2022\tStreamline and clarify core town policies and the many town programs
\navailable for residents.
\nHanover\u2019s future depends on thoughtful leadership, and a willingness to
\nmake smart and sometimes tough decisions. I am ready to do that work \u2026
\ntogether with our community.
\nMy commitment to the voters is to Listen, Lead and Deliver. You can hold me
\naccountable to that commitment.
\nI am excited to be running for the Select Board and energized by the
\nopportunity to represent the residents of Hanover over the next three
\nyears. As a Select Board member, you can count on me to stay focused on
\nHanover\u2019s priorities, to work hard, and to deliver thoughtful, practical
\nsolutions. My time and energy will be dedicated to the issues that directly
\nimpact our community because Hanover has more than enough important work
\nahead of us. And we do not need any distractions from this important work.
\nI respectfully ask for your vote on May 16th.”<\/p>\n
For “Around Town on the Web”,
\nCathy H-B<\/p>\n
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Dear fellow Hanoverians: Below please find James Hoyes’ candidate information sheet. Mr. Hoyes is running for one of the two open three-year terms on the Select Board. There are two candidates for the two open seats, so he is unopposed, … Continue reading