A Special Election will be held on Saturday, Nov. 15, to fill a vacancy on the Select Board.
Each week until the election, Abington News is asking the two residents running a question to help voters better understand them as candidates.
This week’s question:
If elected, what will be your top goals for the next 2.5 years?
Previous questions:
WEEK ONE
WEEK TWO
Also, both candidates have sat for Community Corner interviews with Abington CAM Executive Director Kevin Tocci
MICHAEL LAVERY
My clear top goal is being the best father and husband I can be. And to me that includes making Abington the envy of the South Shore. A place that’s safe, affordable, and communal.
My goal is to make Abington more affordable while protecting essential services. To make the senior housing waiting list shrink rapidly. Currently seniors are waiting 10 years for housing. Making housing more accessible and affordable will address that. And to make rent affordable so renters can save up to put a down payment on a house if they want. I currently have a petition in my possession to get a measure on the 2026 ballot to fight against exploitative housing.
My goal is to make sure everyone has access to food, with things like public gardens and local grocers incentivized to lower costs. My goal is to never have to volunteer at the food pantry again because all residents have affordable groceries and food security. To never again talk to someone who is holding back tears because they feel guilty using services worrying that someone else may need them. To not hear from a mother of two about how she has to choose between housing and food. And not to hear that she feels like she has no representation. My goal is for residents to have access to a full-time social worker to help them with economic troubles, mental health struggles, job hunting, and housing. My goal is for no one to feel like they’re left behind both socially or economically.
Normally I answer these questions by rolling out policies and ideas, you can read those in past questions or on my Facebook. But this time I’d like to talk about how I’m constantly inspired by my fellow members of the Affordable Housing Trust who have devoted countless hours to improve the lives of Abington residents and to make Abington more affordable. We’ve gotten it from 7.1% to over 10% in my time on the Trust. People like Kevin Whalen who knows everyone in town, taught me so much about life in Abington, and opened so many doors for me. People like Shawn Reilly who I was honored to be working the same soccer games as this week. Kevin Tocci, Matt Lyons and Rick Collins who keep Abington informed. People like Mary and her whole team at the Abington Food Pantry. Barbie Dowd and her work with food security at the Senior Center with Amy and the rest of her great team. People I’ve worked with who are on the Select Board and I’ll continue to show them how strongly I stand up for what I believe in and how hard I’ll work to back that up. People like Chief Bonney & Chief Glynn who keep the town safe through hard work and dedication. People all over Town Hall that have helped me so much, Leanne and Barbara at the Clerk’s Office who gave me a chance in town by hiring me as an election worker. Liz and Kevin at the Planning Office. Nancy and Scott helping things get done. Deb and Henry with the library. John Stone at the DPW, who put street markings outside Leavitt Terrace to make sure the entrance and exit aren’t blocked just two days after I requested it. This town is built on the backs of people who devote their lives to service. And my goal is for my daughter (COMING 2026!) to be proud to recognize her father’s name among the ones I’ve mentioned and the hundreds more whom I haven’t had the opportunity to work with yet.
I’m not the best at campaigning. I’m not good at talking about myself. I’d rather hear about your life. To hear your struggles and talk about how we can resolve them. To hear about your successes and how we can protect the programs that make it that way. I’m fighting to make Abington work FOR the people. I’m in the basement of a church handing out food. I’m on a committee that few people watch. I’m working with another committee that will give people access to fresh produce. I’m working elections, announcing sports games, unloading trucks of donations, transporting things for seniors around town, and occasionally bringing my puggle Potato around to departments to brighten people’s days while I talk to the employees about what can make their services run smoother. And my goal is to give Abington someone they deserve. Someone who has a track record of helping and a desire to serve the community. Not just saying I want to volunteer and hoping I win an election. Not making empty promises. But to be out there doing it! My goal is to have transparency. To actually make clear what I stand for and what policies I believe in. To build trust towards the Select Board. As a small-business owner, I have the time and flexibility to devote to making a difference.
And my last goal is to make Abington residents proud. Proud to be from Abington. To be excited to tell people they’re from Abington. A place that pays their teachers more than enough to live in town. A town that is welcoming and accepting of others. A town that celebrates our diversity, not runs from it. A town where everyone knows they have a next meal. And a town where everyone’s housing is secure. A town where a young family can buy a home. And where a person can spend their retirement and golden years.
My goal is when people look back in 2 years and read this, to believe it, because they’re living it.
I’ve gotten so much feedback and it’s been tremendously helpful. So please reach out. Facebook.com/laveryforabington and laveryforabington@gmail.com.
It may not feel like it right now but the power is in our hands to make Abington what we want it to be.
Thank you!
Thank you for your time, your support, your feedback, and your opposition because those things make the picture clearer every day to what our goals are.
NICOLE EMERY
Below, I’ve highlighted a few of my goals. I would also love to connect with any residents who would like to know more. I’m available via email or on Facebook — Nicole Emery for Abington Select Board.
Affordability and Responsible Budgeting:
I’d like to see Abington in a position where we can avoid another future override. We need to work harder to make every tax dollar count. Massachusetts pays some of the highest taxes in the country, and like most towns, the cost of living here in Abington is becoming increasingly difficult. I’m worried about rising costs and the possibility of taxing residents out of town. It’s incredibly important to me that our seniors are able to stay here.
A few ways I believe this can be accomplished include increasing our commercial tax revenue and making thoughtful adjustments to department-level budget line items. I’d also be cautious about bringing in government-run businesses that would generate little to no tax revenue for Abington and could actually end up costing the town money.
Commercial Growth While Preserving Our Small-Town Feel:
I want to see development that balances growth with maintaining the small-town feel, green spaces, and sense of connection that make Abington special. I don’t want to see Abington overdeveloped or over-commercialized. My goal is to thoughtfully expand our commercial tax base. What so many people love about Abington is that it still feels like a small town. We can keep that while still growing responsibly. I discussed this last week and will bring up the big points again. Even modest commercial growth can bring in meaningful, recurring revenue for the town. Bringing in more business will help balance the budget and take some of the pressure off homeowners. I’d like to see us utilize some of the 75 acres Abington owns at Union Point for commercial development. If we use that space wisely, it could make a huge difference for our tax base. We need to address the water capacity issue, but there are options. Union Point really holds the key to our most impactful growth opportunities. We also have underdeveloped areas along Route 18 that could be used more effectively. Over the next two years, I’d like to see the town work more closely with both the South Shore Chamber of Commerce and the Old Colony Planning Council to ramp up outreach and marketing. Strengthening these partnerships can help us attract new businesses and tap into regional programs that support local development. We should also make better use of these programs to provide funding or incentives that help Abington upgrade infrastructure, prepare commercial sites, or recruit businesses. Partnering with the state to attract startups or small companies that qualify for economic development incentives would also be beneficial. Finally, I’d like to see us get more creative with how we manage resources. For example, exploring opportunities with nearby towns to share services (like water or infrastructure) could help us control costs while still supporting responsible growth.
Strengthen Public Safety:
Public safety and affordability go hand in hand. When our community is safe, families feel confident staying here, local businesses thrive, and property values remain stable. A safe community attracts small businesses — and when those businesses succeed, the town benefits from higher revenue. Businesses are more likely to invest in a community they trust is safe and well-managed. It’s more affordable to maintain safety than to try to recover from costly crises. Safe communities also help reduce “hidden costs” like higher insurance rates. Most importantly, we have a responsibility to keep our first responders safe and ensure they have the resources they need to do their jobs effectively.
Trash:
I’d like to see some resolution to the looming trash issue. In speaking with residents, I believe a large majority want their trash picked up — but costs are skyrocketing, and we need to find ways to pay for it. I don’t believe having Abington take on its own trash services is a feasible option. While some have suggested buying trash trucks, the true cost would far exceed that. The ongoing expenses would include salaries, waste disposal fees, fuel, insurance, liability, and other indirect costs. We also wouldn’t have the same negotiating power as private companies when it comes to contracting with disposal facilities. Ideally, I’d like to see trash remain within the tax bill, but I recognize costs will continue to rise, and that may no longer be feasible. Most nearby communities use a trash user fee. If Abington moves in that direction, I would support waiving or significantly reducing the fee for seniors.
Improve Communication and Trust:
I want to create more opportunities for residents to be heard — through open dialogue, accessible meetings, and regular updates. Every resident should feel included and informed when it comes to town decisions. I believe our local government should stay focused on Abington — our people, our priorities, and our future. Local decisions have the biggest impact on our daily lives, and our attention should stay right here. My focus will always be on what’s best for the town, not on national politics.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions, concerns, or comments. I love hearing from you!
Email: NME1217@gmail.com, Facebook: Nicole Emery for Abington Select Board or direct link (copy and paste): facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581482505941
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