Marion Select Board candidate profile: Cynthia Callow

MARION — Select Board candidate Cynthia Callow has served the town of Marion for over a decade as past chair of the Conservation Commission and current chair of the Board of Appeals. Now she intends to apply her experience to the Select Board if elected on Friday, May 16.

While she emphasized that the current Select Board members are “great,” Callow said she believes it’s time for Marion to elect diverse candidates to the Select Board.

“I think a woman on the Select Board would be good. It seems to always be men and so I think a woman on the board would be a good change,” she said.

Growing up in Easton, she spent her childhood summers in Marion before moving to town permanently in 1981.

If elected to the Select Board, Callow intends to focus on fixing infrastructure issues and maintaining the essential departments of Marion.

“I would like to get the roads fixed. I’d also want [to fix] water and sewer,” said Callow.

She pointed out that residents “pay too much” for water and sewer rates and said “we got to get more people on the system” to reduce water bills.

Fixing roads and sidewalks in town is a top priority for Callow. She expressed that the current state of the sidewalks and roads could create dangerous situations for residents.

“I think [we] need to fix the existing ones and then we can add more. I know they need a sidewalk on Congress Road,” said Callow.

She added, “We have a beautiful fire [department], police [department] and schools — excellent — and I would want to keep them that way.”

Regarding the potential $3.2 million Town House renovation that will be voted on at Town Meeting, Callow voiced confusion as to why the fire suppression systems and ADA compliance weren’t already completed in the past.

“I hope it gets ADA approved, and I hope we can move forward with that and I hope the sprinkler system goes in,” she said.

Speaking about the potential creation of a historic district in Marion, Callow voiced disappointment that the Historic District Commission allowed two commercial entities to be exempted from the historic district guidelines.

As a homeowner in the proposed district, she ultimately said, “I’m comfortable leaving it up to the town to vote whether they want one or not.”

Callow worked in education for 30 years as a special education teacher and high school  principal in New Bedford before retiring from full-time work and committing herself to public service.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in special education, both from Bridgewater State University.

Alongside her duties with the Zoning Board of Appeals, Callow currently works as an adjunct professor at Boston College, teaching introduction to special education two days a week.

“Education is still my passion,” said Callow.

She described her fellow candidates as “very powerful and accomplished” but stated that she can “serve the town the best because I have the time to do it and I have the experience.”

“I would like [ voters] to know that I have dedication to the town. I know the town. I’ve worked in the town. I’ve not been on the sidelines — I’ve helped run this town for a while,” said Callow.