Your Voice in Our Community
VOTE MAY 5TH Re-Elect Rob Gustison Merrimac Select Board
Discover the commitment and energy of Rob Gustison for Merrimac Select Board
Overview
Campaign Goals One Year Later
Continue to Attract New Business and Lower Burden on Homeowners
Business Growth: Successfully attracted new businesses, expanding our tax base and reducing the burden on homeowners.
Infrastructure Development
Comprehensive Master Plan: Developed a draft Master Plan to guide infrastructure improvements and sustainable growth.
Protect Local Resources
Land Conservation Initiatives: Secured protected status for properties along Town Forest Road, Red Oak Hill Road, and Huse Road to preserve natural resources.
Manage School Budgets Effectively
Increase in Chapter 70 Education Funding: Increased per-student funding from $30 to $104 for FY25, providing better financial support for our schools.
Responsible Budget Management: Maintained a balanced school budget for FY25 that prioritizes education while keeping taxpayer costs manageable and without an override.
Increased State Funding for Transportation: Personally, advocated for transportation funding after state budget cuts, successfully restoring funding to previous levels.
Advocate for Increased State Funding
Grant Funding Success:
FY24: Secured over $1.1 million in grants for town projects.
FY25 (to date): Already secured ~$500,000 in grants.
Mission
As a dedicated and invested community member with over a decade of residency and extensive experience in town finance and non-profit management, Rob Gustison is running for re-election with a mission to enhance our town's financial health and sustainability. Through his leadership, he aims to foster economic growth, safeguard our resources, and advocate for responsible governance. His commitment is rooted in a vision that prioritizes the well-being and safety of our residents and the financial future of our community.
Re-Election Campaign Goals
Our Work Is Just Beginning!!!
• Attract New Businesses and Lower Homeowners Burden: Commit to ensuring that each tax dollar is allocated with meticulous care, directed towards the improvement of Merrimac. Rob will focus on increasing town revenue by actively encouraging new businesses to set up shop, ensuring a diverse and thriving local economy. It is disheartening to acknowledge the considerable rise in costs across various aspects of our lives. To sustain and expand business growth in Merrimac, we require innovative initiatives. We must create an environment that encourages enterprises to be part of our community and be more accepting of businesses that want to come to our town to reduce the tax burden on Merrimac Homeowners.
• Infrastructure Development: Advocate to expand the town's aging capacity for essential resources like water, sewer, and electricity, with a special emphasis on sustainable practices, including the promotion of solar energy. These bureaucratic constraints on our town have not been updated since the 1970's. Rob will express the need to enact an enhanced master plan strategy for the maintenance and improvement of our streets and sidewalks. Focusing on the revitalization of our recreational areas, along with the creation of a more dynamic downtown space. Prioritizing these locations is crucial as they serve as a showcase for our community.
• Protect Local Resources: Pledge to never privatize the town's electric company. This is a community asset that should be for the benefit of our residents. In addition, continuing to improve the town's natural beauty including Lake Attitash and watershed.
• Collaborate with local Chambers of Commerce: Foster partnerships with neighboring chambers of commerce in Haverhill and Amesbury to promote local business expansion and cross-community cooperation.
• Manage School Budgets Effectively: Work diligently to maintain manageable school budgets for the Pentucket Regional School District and Whittier Tech, ensuring quality education without unnecessary financial strain.
• Environmental Responsibility: Hold upriver towns accountable for environmental damages to Merrimac's riverfront caused by sewage and rainwater discharges.
• Advocate for Increased State Funding: Lobby Beacon Hill to keep their promise and pay our regional school transportation costs. In addition, raise Chapter 70 funding for our school district, ensuring that our schools receive the necessary resources for quality education. As a member of the PRSD Regional Agreement Committee, Rob knows we deserve our fair share!
A Little About Rob
At 16, Rob started his career working with disabled children and adults. By 18, he was an EMT and volunteer firefighter. Rob graduated with high honors from Salem State University with a degree in Criminal Justice and Chemistry. Rob did a year-long internship at the Universiteit van Amsterdam where he gained experience in cross-cultural communication and diversity in a non-English-speaking country.
Building on his passion for community betterment, Rob earned a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Non-Profit Management from Suffolk University, gaining valuable skills for effective leadership and strategic decision-making under a reduced 501(c)(3) budget.
Rob, his wife Michelle and their family, have lived in Merrimac for 13 years. For over six of those years, Rob has been an integral member of the Merrimac Finance Committee until elected to the Merrimac Select Board last year. During his tenure, he has advocated for increased funding towards fire and safety while pushing for burden reductions on Merrimac Homeowners. He is dedicated to fiscal responsibility and community growth. Two goals which are not mutually exclusive.
Rob’s multifaceted background, blending criminal justice, business administration, and extensive non-profit management, positions him as a candidate with a unique perspective to contribute to the financial prosperity and vitality of Merrimac. Rob looks forward to meet the challenges and exceed the expectations of serving on the Merrimac Select Board.
Show Your Support!
Join Us!
Through collaborative efforts and responsible decision-making, Rob is committed to shaping a thriving, sustainable, and inclusive future for our community. Your support is crucial in making this vision a reality.
Rob Gustison for Merrimac Selectboard
Merrimac, Massachusetts 01860, United States
