Editorial: Hayden for Amherst

Published on October 24, 2008

At last year's fall Town Meeting, a number of zoning changes were introduced and subsequently passed, each aimed at streamlining Amherst's permitting process and making the town more receptive to new and expanding businesses.

Aaron Hayden, the former Planning Board chairman who helped write those zoning changes, has a good grasp of what's right for Amherst. He is our choice to fill the vacant seat on the Amherst Select Board.

With the town facing a tough financial period, Hayden's sense of Amherst's economic future and his ability to negotiate and find balance between competing interests will add strength to the Select Board.

In drafting the zoning changes, Hayden bridged the divide between those who want to preserve open space and Amherst's rural charm with those who want the town to brim with new development. His track record in this area is strong: Hayden was integral in the creation of the town's Climate Action Plan, and as a board member with the Hitchcock Center, Hayden helped raise $30,000 for town conservation initiatives. As an engineer at Amherst College, Hayden implemented a number of cutting-edge, green projects, such as the installation of a cogeneration plant that provides heat and power. Finally, New England Environmental - a business based on green building principles - would never have stayed and expanded in Amherst without the zoning changes Hayden helped write and sell to Town Meeting.

Beyond service on the Planning Board, Hayden has been a trustee of the Munson Library, a member of the town's Energy Conservation Task Force, secretary of the Amherst Comprehensive Planning Committee, a member of the Amherst Redevelopment Authority, and he served seven years on the volunteer on-call force that backs up the fire department. Hayden has also pledged to support communication and interaction among town boards and committees, which in difficult times is always critical.

It's logical that Hayden's civic track record has led him to run for Amherst's top municipal board. Hayden's diverse experience and his ability to lead and collaborate with others will be valuable on the Select Board. In our opinion, those qualities make him the best choice on Nov. 4.