Candidate for Town Clerk:    Trudy L Reid
Phone:                                    978-468-3066
Website/Social Media:          www.trudyreidtownclerk.com
                                                Facebook: Trudy Reid – Vote for Experience
Candidate Bio/Background: I have been a Wenham resident for 28 years, married to my husband David for 30 years, and we have 2 adult children. I have been involved in Wenham in a variety of roles over the past 28 years, including several Church and school groups, and I actually started my involvement in municipal government with my first Town Election in 1996. I served on the Wenham Issues of Social Services Help (WISSH) committee, and I was also the Director of the COA where I worked to support our seniors and manage the van program. Recently I had the pleasure of chairing Wenham’s 375th Anniversary committee planning a wonderful year of events to celebrate our heritage. I also kept active in town by serving on recent search committees for Town Administrator. As part of my personal goal to share my knowledge, I am a mentor in the MA Town Clerk’s Association where I coach/teach other Town Clerks, and I’m also the Treasurer of the North Shore City and Town Clerks Association. 

1)    What experience and skills do you have that would make you the best candidate for the Town Clerk?
I have been a Town Clerk for 11 years, 4 as Wenham’s Town Clerk, and received my Certified MA Municipal Clerk certification in 2014. As Chief Election Official, I have prepared and directed 26 Local, State and Presidential elections, an Election Recount, and assisted with 15 Town Meetings. I work with State agencies on a regular basis including MA State Elections, MA State Vitals, the Attorney General’s office, State Ethics, State Open Meeting Law, and State Representatives. While serving in Wenham, working with the Community Preservation Committee, I was able to secure a five-year grant to preserve historical documents that are considered permanent records of the Town. Additionally, I believe a focus on customer service is essential. When a resident comes up to your counter, it is all about them and assisting them with any concern or issue they may have. I am also a team player and accustomed to working long hours. The Town Clerk’s office is not a part time position nor is it only a 36 ½ hour work week. During elections, many long hours including weekends are required to serve the town, especially in the new world of early voting options and vote by mail.

2) If elected, what would be your top two priorities as Wenham’s Town Clerk?
a) I would concentrate on continuing to digitize the records in the Town Clerk’s office. Many of these records are used on a regular basis by the Town Clerk as well as residents and other Town departments. Creating digital formats and utilizing online tools would ease access and reduce time required to locate the records.
b) The other key area of focus would be to ensure that people have better access to information and better ways to conduct business with the town. I would investigate additional options for the Town Clerk’s page, and possibly other areas of the Town’s website, to see what can be added in the way of records access and on-line applications. The goal would be to make it easier for residents to apply online: to file marriage intentions or business certificates, just to name a few.

Thank you for this forum to share some information as to who I am, and I look forward to the opportunity to come home to Wenham to serve the community again.