Meet Marion Select Board candidate George "TJ" Walker

MARION — George “TJ” Walker is running for Select Board striving for transparency and participation. 

Walker has lived in Marion for over 40 years and is currently an elected member of the Board of Assessors. He has been in and out of elected government positions since 1993 and has held positions on the Board of Assessors and Planning Board. 

He received a bachelor's degree from Hamilton College and a masters in administration and planning from Northeastern University. He also has a law degree from Seton Hall University. 

Walker has spent most of his time working outside of Marion in the hospitality business, owning and operating hotels and commercial properties. 

“I don't have a financial interest other than the love of the town,” Walker said. 

The candidate said his main goal is to revise current policies and processes to create more transparency, participation and accountability.

Walker wants voters to make decisions for the town and his job is to educate them to participate in this democratic process. 

“I think decisions have been made without voter input,” Walker said. “I think Town Meeting, under our form of government, should be making all of the decisions.”

The candidate said he wants to improve the fiscal discipline of the town. Not only does he want to add an audit board, but be transparent about budgeting. 

Walker said that regionalizing the water and sewage systems would bring down costs. He said he wants to connect to Wareham’s water treatment system since it is closer. 

Currently Marion’s wells are hosted in Rochester and treated in Fairhaven. 

“I think our water and sewer rates are the highest in the Commonwealth and we have voters that are spending more on water and sewer than their property taxes,” Walker said. 

Affordable housing for seniors is another one of the candidates concerns. He said there are long waitlists at the two local senior living facilities. 

Walker said he wants to explore constructing new units especially since new housing may be added where the Lockheed Martin offices were.  

The candidate said he is proud of the work he did on Article 51 at last year's Town Meeting. The citizens' petition aimed to restore parts of Marion’s crumbling infrastructure. 

He said fiscal discipline will allow Marion to address their rising water and sewage bills and take care of crumbling infrastructure. 

Walker also said he hopes to introduce more participation between the Select Board and communities. He said he wants to host neighborhood meetings with the Select Board when certain neighborhoods are having problems to hear feedback. 

Walker said he hopes to inform citizens thoroughly, seek their input, welcome participation and look for creative and collaborative solutions. 

“I want to help our community address the imminent challenges and plan strategically for tomorrow,” Walker said.