Margaret Scarsdale

Margaret Scarsdale was born in Georgia, and lives in Massachusetts. Scarsdale earned her general equivalency diploma (GED). She later earned a bachelor's degree in American studies and sociology. Her career experience includes owning her own writing and consulting business, working at Ayer Town Hall, and teaching language arts.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a proven, engaged, passionate public servant with a long history of successful collaborations. I first saw the power of community engagement as a leader of the Kinder Morgan pipeline fight, and again as a co-leader of the toxic dirt fight in Pepperell, and all of my work since has incorporated that philosophy. As Chair of the Select Board, I remain focused on collaborative community-making: Bringing stakeholders together to unpack issues, determining goals to solve them, and then rolling up my sleeves and working to get the job done. This style of leadership is transforming Pepperell, and serves to underscore my belief in the purposefulness of genuine engagement.

I owned a successful writing and consulting business where I worked for the state’s top employers; I have a strong history as a grant writer, where I have secured and administered over a million dollars in grants; and I brought lively debates to the classrooms as I taught middle school students to understand and love the power of English Language Arts. I am a lucky mother to two children: an astrophysicist son and a firefighter/EMT daughter, and I love to hike, kayak, play the piano, and read.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Climate change is a dire threat to our planet and must be met without equivocation. This cannot happen through lukewarm mandates, and absolutely cannot happen through unfunded mandates. Legislation should be targeted to a full spectrum of remedies and must be fully funded to avoid crippling small towns further.The affordable housing crisis is at a tipping point, a crisis of many converging elements, including aging baby boomers, young families burdened with college debt, and no strong plan from the state to address this issue. Massachusetts needs a clear framework to help towns achieve the state’s 10% goal, and this must include a mix of incentives to developers and aid to small towns to help them bridge this gap.The COVID pandemic has upended almost every facet of American life, and emerging from this in a strong, sustainable way is a priority. Small towns were especially hit hard, as there is often little “cushion” to meet the varied needs of a robust community: senior and veteran needs resulting from physical and emotional isolation; students struggling with almost two years of virtual learning, and the resulting loss in key literary and emotional skills; small businesses and farmers struggling to rebound, as many are the mom-and-pop operations that are so vital to community vibrancy; and strained municipal services, as exhausted employees leave the workforce. Massachusetts must address all of these needs in a robust, comprehensive way.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Addressing Climate Change: If left unchecked, the social and economic effects of climate change will be devastating. It is unconscionable to punt aggressive climate action to the next generation: By then, the tipping point might be so great as to be a lost cause. Helping towns address climate change, both through mitigation and a proactive vision, is a priority of mine.

Funding State Mandates: As a resident of a district that comprises towns with a population from ~3,000 to ~12,000, I understand first-hand how crippling unfunded state mandates are. Unfunded state mandates, like regionalized bus transportation, leave towns held hostage as they wrestle with the dilemma of funding schools vs. funding necessary municipal needs. The state has long been focused on large cities, and many smaller towns are often left to fend for themselves, which always translates into deferred maintenance, stretching departments thin, and disinvestment that keeps them from achieving their potential.

Personal Rights: We seem to have come to a crossroads in this country about what rights seem to be “self-evident.” Now we are embroiled in a national debate – that has filtered down to the states and towns – of what it means to be a human. I have long been passionate about standing up in a prominent and defiant way for people who otherwise might not have a voice, and every person, of every color, and every sexual orientation, has unassailable rights that I will champion and defend.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Genuine Engagement: There is no way to effectively lead without being intimately connected with key stakeholders in the district, and understanding the individual needs of each town in an on-the-ground, fact-driven way. Engagement also allows elected officials to see opportunities for partnerships within – and between – districts, which fosters vibrancy in the region and makes sense economically.

Commitment to Action: All the talk in the world is useless if a leader cannot follow through and make sure goals are achieved. This involves facilitating key collaborations, helping to identify and develop a strategic plan for accomplishing goals, and rolling up your sleeves and actively participating in the process. Not only does this have a practical outcome of seeing goals accomplished, it helps build trust and energy in a community as they see elected officials as a genuine partner in success.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am a passionate believer in opening doors, fostering conversations, and building collaborative solutions. I am genuinely interested in the issues that vex and confound and hold back our communities. I am a tireless worker, fueled by the energy of the purposefulness of public service. I am self-reflective, and use challenges as a way to improve future relationships and future work. I am not in public service to grab any limelight (I often defer from it) but out of a sincere desire to help set things right in a community, whether that’s building up relationships or securing funding to build up downtowns.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I come from a family that faced financial hardships for all of my young life. My mother was a single mother who worked full-time, with three young children at home to care for themselves (not uncommon in that place and time). I began working at a five-and-dime store when I was 13 years old, and our predicament was so pronounced by the time I was 17 that it was decided I would drop out of high school to go to work full-time. As so many face rising costs of living and the impact of inflation on their household budgets, they can be assured that a vote for me is a vote for someone who has lived that reality personally and who will bring that lived experience with her to Beacon Hill to fight for working families across our district.