John DeCosta says he has always wanted to be a selectman.

He served 17 years in the town’s Fire Department, 15 years in the water district, 12 years on the community preservation committee (where he is now chairman,) 12 years on the capital planning committee, two years on the open space preservation committee and three on the conservation management committee.

Financially, he believes the town is in a good place, but notes that the biggest issue now is getting through the covid crisis.

DeCosta wants to further help the town financially by working on its capital project management and getting a better evaluation of the school district’s needs. Having the district at the same level of understanding would help save the town save money.

To further bolster the town economically, he said that residents and businesses would benefit from the Industrial Drive project. DeCosta said that bringing in more businesses will help lower the residential tax burden.

Nearby, at the bike path connection project, he said that officials need to evaluate it as an entire project rather than just looking at it piece-by-piece. Afterwards, the town would have a bigger picture of the project’s cost and could find ways to lower it.

Solar energy investment is something that the town has recently looked into. DeCosta believes that the farms are not bad for the town, but the Planning Board must create solar zoning bylaws faster. The farms also need to be zoned in non-obstructive areas much like how cell towers are zoned to a specific place in the town.

DeCosta says he is passionate about Mattapoisett’s affordable housing issues. His kids have moved, and he worries about his grandchildren’s generation affording homes.

Having his family in town is important to him. DeCosta comes from a long line of Mattapoisett officials, and running to be a Selectman has “been something I’ve thought of all my life.”