Hi, I’m Ellen Townson, and I am excited to be a candidate for Select Board in the upcoming Town elections on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.  I am a lifelong resident of Andover and feel very fortunate to be raising my family here.  I’m running for Select Board because I believe I can help to move Andover forward in a thoughtful way.  I’d like to bring a fresh perspective and valuable new skills to the board, while being accessible and inclusive to others along the way.  I believe communities thrive when leaders are open to different viewpoints and ideas.

Over the last decade, I have sat on several town boards, commissions and committees. As a liaison between them, I have learned the importance of listening, sharing and collaborating and I have found the results are always better when we work together. My municipal training and regulatory experience have given me a strong working knowledge of how our town operates, so I can continue to address resident concerns and support public participation, while helping our community understand the process.  Now, more than ever, I believe my Conservation Commission experience is needed on our Select Board, to help Andover plan for and mitigate our very challenging, more frequent storm events that are affecting our homes, roads and businesses. 

I also represent Andover on a regional food insecurity partnership, and I see first-hand that today’s cost of living has affected many residents, especially our senior citizens and our children.  As the mother of a middle school student, I am committed to supporting all of Andover’s children. As the daughter of a parent who moved out of Andover in order to downsize, I believe we need to keep Andover affordable for our senior citizens.   

Please visit my “About Ellen” page so you can learn more about me, and the experiences which have led me to run for Select Board.  Also, I encourage you to reach out to me and tell me about you, your concerns and your ideas for Andover.  Let’s work together to lift up this wonderful town that we are all fortunate to call home.