Voters Guide: Pam Brown for Ward 4 Alderman

Name: Pam Brown

Age: 57

How long have you resided in Nashua? 16 years

Your background /education:

I grew up in Upper Montclair, NJ, and after attending Boston College, I lived in Cambridge, Mass., for many years. I went to Northeastern University for an MBA, married in 1995 and moved to Nashua. My former husband and I adopted twins and they light up my life.

Experience/Occupation:

Although I’ve worked in Human Services for many years the bulk of my career was spent in the financial services industry and I was selected for Who’s Who in Business and Professional Women. I’ve held positions as a QA Manager, test analyst and as Principal Quality Assurance Engineer at Fidelity Investments in Merrimack. Most recently I worked at a program for individuals with co-occurring substance use disorder and severe mental illness in Manchester.

Having been elected State Representative during the Special Election earlier this year, I took office in March and was assigned to the Children and Family Law Committee. I’ve also had the privilege of being appointed Chairman of the Lyme Disease Subcommittee under Health and Human Services Oversight Committee.

Prior elected offices: Currently State Representative Hillsborough District 31 / Ward 4 Nashua as of March 2013.

Personal info and interests outside of politics:

I am the proud mother of twin girls that attend Elm Street Middle School and have also been a member of the Elm Street Middle School PTO. One of my daughters recently became interested in acting and since I’m a former Screen Actors Guild member (I also did stand-up comedy!), I prepared her resume/headshot and we’ve both been in two videos.

As a survivor of Lyme Disease, I’m an active advocate for awareness, education and along with my role on the subcommittee at the State House, I’ve sponsored the documentary “Under Our Skin” at the Nashua Public Library and in Concord

Should you be elected, how will you connect with your constituents to learn more about issues they care most about?

I plan to connect with my constituents via Facebook postings, by returning phone calls and emails in a timely fashion and by talking to neighbors during community events such as the recent block party which I attended at PAL center. I plan to attend our Neighborhood Crime Watch and community meetings such as the Broad Street Parkway meetings.

In your opinion, what are key issues affecting your Ward?

As we all know, crime has been a big problem and our Chief of Police, John Seusing, said that the robberies were most likely attributed to drug addicts. New Hampshire has one of the highest rates of prescription drug abuse in the country and the upcoming NPD prescription drug take back day is Saturday Oct 26 at the DPW garage off stadium Way. As a heads-up for interested readers, I spoken to Lt. Bailey and confirmed that the medication is not required to be in the original container and a plastic bag is adequate to maintain privacy.

The sidewalk project has been controversial and I would have liked to see the Board of Alderman more involved with many of the details, particularly the budget. Since I lean on the frugal side, I probably would have scaled back on the pricey Main Street Bridge crosswalk. The granite trimmed landscaping, however attractive, are not only costly now but also require seasonal upkeep costs for years and years to come. I’m glad to see information now posted on the city web page, the 2010 final report.

Why are you running?

I’m running for office as the Ward 4 Alderman because I believe that I can make a difference in our community. As a State Representative with a formal business education and career including both business and human services, I can bring a fresh new perspective, one that is based on sound business practices and compassion for all our citizens regardless of their circumstances. I’m committed to achieving win-win solutions to the complex challenges we may face in the upcoming years.

My interest was sparked when the Main Street trees were taken down. While the extravagance of the sidewalk project unfolded many of us were concerned about the crime rate. Aren’t safer streets and better schools more important? One of my daughters had a math class last year with no text book and I’ve personally had to fight for special education services and learned offline that it’s because the budget’s so tight.

I believe that we need to adjust our priorities in Nashua. Public education is the lifeblood of our communities and of our future. We need good schools with programs that inspire a love for reading and learning and teach our children/adolescents those essential skills to prepare them for successful living and rewarding careers. Quality schools attract solid families that make Nashua their home and contribute to building a solid economy. At the same time we also need to keep property taxes within reason. I look forward to participating in the budget process so I can make sure that we keep our priorities straight.

Why should voters choose you over your opponent (what uniquely qualifies you to represent the public)?

Voters in Ward 4 should support my candidacy because I have a solid career, formal business education, and I'm not only committed to compromise, mutual respect and "win-win" solutions, yet also to keeping our streets safe, property taxes in check, quality schools a priority and transparency in our city government. New blood is healthy for organizations such as the Board of Alderman because it brings new perspectives, life experiences and ways of doing things. Having a professional background including both human services and business has given me the balanced blend of compassion and business acumen. I look forward to bringing this diverse skill set to the local level as I have in Concord so that I may be of greater service to our city. I humbly ask for your support and promise to earn your respect as a committed partner in building a prosperous and vibrant community that attracts businesses and families alike.