Meet mayor Walsh
ANDOVER TWP — Tom Walsh recently began serving his fourth term as Andover Township’s mayor. A resident for 52 years, Walsh is no stranger to the people of Andover and how the town works. His life has gone in a few different directions, but Andover remains a constant.
Florence M. Burd, a retired principal for which the elementary school was named, was his best friend’s grandmother. Walsh attended there when it was called Andover Regional.
At 18, after graduating Newton High School, he began working at the local A&P as a grocery boy.
At 26, he became a manager and eventually in charge of five regional A&P stores.
After leaving the grocery business he bounced around to different sales management jobs and in his spare time always coached basketball and softball which he still does 40 years later. In 1990, he opened Just Right Painting, a residential and commercial painting business.
One day, someone mentioned politics.
Public service in his blood
“My father was a committeeman and served three terms. People kept asking me to run, but I owned a small business and when you own your own business and go into politics, people may not like you,” said Walsh. “If you do politics right, you are going to upset people. They make like you personally, but not your politics — you become an open book.”
Nevertheless after attending several meetings and watching, Walsh went for it ten years ago but lost a committee seat by 13 votes.
The following year he won. A year later, he became mayor, and in January the Andover Township Committee voted him in for 2013 replacing Mike Lensak. In June, he will have to go back on the ballot for re-election to the committee.
“I used to be the new kid on the block, but now I am the most senior of everyone. At that point, I felt the town needed change. You get involved because you think everyone is wrong and you are right. But there are rules and regulations you have to go by so it makes it hard.”
With Bob Smith resigning and two new committee members Dolores Blackburn and Janis McGovern, the committee will face adapting to a new groove. “You need different opinions to make it successful — that’s why you have five. A 3 to 2 vote is very good,” he said.
Achievements and challenges
One of the accomplishments he prides himself on is bringing down the cost of professional legal fees, and the town has not lost a law suit in years. Seven years ago, he put together the deal for cell town revenue by making one phone call. He is also very skilled at handling the budget with 2013 being his eighth year at it. But as the years go on, the experience doesn’t make it easier given the economic climate of most municipalities.
“When I first came on we were fairly flush with the budget, and we were creative about revenues like our 22 shared services. Nine years later, it’s a much tougher job. You have to be business friendly and enviormentally friendly-you walk a fine line.”
The mayor’s role on the five person committee is to be the point person and run the meetings. But most importantly, the mayor votes last. “I enjoy having to make the decision. It’s good when it gets split-it shows it’s a good debate.”
His main goal for 2013 is to continue to work on revenues and be as inventive as possible, but also to “keep our head above water.” Walsh sees himself serving another three years. “I do enjoy it-you get addicted to it. I love this town, and I think it’s going in the right direction.”