The following was sent to us by a reader –
Dear Reading community,
I’d like to begin by expressing gratitude to Charles Robinson and Mark Dockser for their dedicated service on the School Committee, Select Board, and Finance Committee. Serving as a volunteer in town government offers the chance to play a key role in molding the future of your community while deepening your insight into local challenges and governance. Though it requires giving up some family time, the ultimate goal is to enhance our town, creating a better environment for future generations.
Election Day is approaching this Tuesday, April 8th, and I urge you to vote, regardless of which candidates you support. I’d like to briefly highlight my recommendations below, but I encourage you to independently research not only these individuals but also the other specific candidates in your precincts.
Since her Select Board election last May, Melissa Murphy has proven to be a valuable contributor to our town. One of her earliest notable votes was on the appointments to the CPDC, where her choice of John Arena for one of the two open slots significantly influenced the MBTA Communities vote last November. John’s push to present two plans at Town Meeting, rather than just one, enabled the approval of the minimalist compliance map. Later in the year, the downtown parking kiosk initiative was launched, though it fell far short of expectations. After receiving widespread criticism, Melissa and I dedicated a full day to covering parking fees, helping people navigate the kiosks, and collecting donations for the Food Pantry. That experience provided invaluable feedback that fueled the eventual vote to permanently shut down the kiosks, as residents, shoppers, and business owners overwhelmingly rejected them.
Christopher Cook brings more than ten years of expertise in finance and banking, a skill set currently missing from the Select Board but essential for our town’s future. With two debt exclusion projects up for a vote in May, we must start preparing now for a potential override within the next three to five years. Addressing the structural budget deficit and facing these challenges directly is critical. Although our Finance Committee is outstanding, my conversations with Chris demonstrate that he already has the wisdom and proficiency of an experienced leader with years of service under his belt.
Dana Guarino embodies the reason many of us settled in Reading to raise families: its exceptional school system. Raised in Reading, Dana attended Killam Elementary and later graduated from Reading Memorial High School—remarkably, Killam remains unchanged from his time there 30 years ago. After living elsewhere, Dana returned to Reading to build a family with his wife, Stefanie, and their three children now attend Joshua Eaton Elementary. I listened to Dana speak at a campaign event on Haven Street, and one of his remarks resonated with me. He said that the School Committee should focus on teaching kids to overcome obstacles rather than eliminating them, as obstacles are an inevitable part of life—a perspective I wholeheartedly share.
Finally, there’s Tom Wise. It would take several pages to detail everything Tom has accomplished for our town and the students of Reading Public Schools. To begin with, while the vote to appoint our exceptional Superintendent, Dr. Thomas Milaschewski, ended at 5-1, few realize the groundwork started long before. Tom played a key role in paving the way for that vote to even take place. He also spearheaded the initiative that brought tuition-free, full-day kindergarten to our schools. As someone who paid full tuition for my eldest daughter’s kindergarten and only a fraction for my youngest, I can attest to the significant financial relief this provided—not just for my family, but for all families in town moving forward. Additionally, Tom served alongside me on the ARPA Advisory Committee, where he created the framework that distributed $900,000 in funding to Reading’s frontline workers, teachers, cafeteria staff, and others.
Whatever the results of the 2025 election, I’m dedicated to partnering and working alongside whoever is elected, just as they will with me. I thank everyone for volunteering and for the opportunity to serve as your representative.
Christopher Haley
71 Tennyson Road
