Why are you running for Councillor and what particular skills can you bring to the position?
I am running for Councilor because I want to help guide Salem back to a more resident and community focused path. Too many times, we've been forced to sacrifice our traditions and historical sites in the name of development and/or progress. Over the course of 26 years in the restaurant industry, working through the ranks from dishwasher to manager, I have developed an incredibly diverse set of skills. Dealing with people has always been a primary focus; whether that was hiring, teaching, and training employees or coming up with unique solutions to customer's difficulties. Another important focus is the financial side of any business. I successfully budgeted my businesses, balancing the needs of the business with the needs of employees and customers.
Residents are facing housing instability and displacement. Do you have specific plans that would protect renters in the city?
Housing Instability and displacement is not just a renters problem. Residents who have lived here all their lives are leaving because they are no longer able to afford it. Many are on fixed incomes and taxes are increasing every year. There is no easy solution to this problem. I would start by looking for a way to lower taxes, or, at the very least, halt the increases. We will not be able to build our way out of this problem. On the contrary, the overly rapid development throughout the city has exacerbated this problem.
Salem is already seeing the effects of the climate crisis, including flooding during storms and high tides. Focusing on what you would do, what are your top priorities to mitigate the climate crisis?
The climate change crisis is already here. I would start by restricting any new development on flood zones. Working with local, state, and government agencies, I would strive towards developing an in depth set of procedures for our sea walls: specifically, securing the existing ones and potentially building new ones with a focus on Ward 1, which as a peninsula is surrounded by water on 3 sides.
Salem strives to be a diverse, equitable, and inclusive city. What have you done to lead on these ideals and how will you support work in this area?
Salem has already made great strides towards being an incredibly diverse, equitable, and inclusive city. I feel it is important to maintain that momentum and continue building upon the foundations laid by others. Specifically I believe communication and inclusion are of paramount importance. Diverse teams always provide multiple creative solutions versus a person working alone. However, everyone must be made to feel as if their opinion is important and will be heard. To that end I would strive to a) develop multiple paths of communication (e-mail, letters, virtual meetings, and in person meetings), b) embrace members of those groups so as to encourage constructive discourse, and c) welcome opinions and ideas, other than my own, so as to better understand differing points of view.
On average, 30% of Salem residents voted in the past municipal elections. Please outline some ideas you have that can enhance voter engagement and elections.
Voter turnout has been low in past municipal elections. Since Salem has absentee, mail-in, and early voting in addition to traditional in-person voting, the problem does not lie in access to voting/polling sites. I believe it is an engagement problem. I would hold monthly, in person meetings. I would push for the city to go back to 100% “in person”
city board meetings. I would also strive to develop a “Salem Newsletter” sent periodically to every resident to let them know whats going on in the city. While this newsletter would also be available electronically via the web, I feel a paper copy is necessary to reach pinnacle audience.
Learn more
Campaign Email: ajdominos2014@hotmail.com
Facebook: Blanchette for Ward 1