Committed to Our Community – Radha Gargeya on the Issues

Sudbury is more than just a town — it’s a community built on connection, care, and shared purpose. As your Select Board candidate, I’m committed to thoughtful leadership that listens, includes, and acts.

On this page, you’ll find the priorities that matter most to me — and to so many of you: strong schools, smart planning and finances, a high quality of life for all, and sustainable economic growth.

These are not just talking points — they’re a roadmap for a stronger, more connected Sudbury, shaped by community voices and focused on our collective future.

• LEADERSHIP, PLANNING and FINANCES
• SCHOOLS
• QUALITY OF LIFE
• ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

For a Stronger, More Connected Sudbury – My Plan

• A Collaborative Path to Stronger After-School Programs in Sudbury
• The Importance of Finishing the Bruce Freeman and Mass Central Rail Trails in Sudbury
• Understanding Free Cash in Municipal Finance: Planning for Stability and Growth
• Real Leadership, Real Results – Building a Thriving Sudbury—Together
• Strong, Transparent Leadership for Sudbury’s Future

LEADERSHIP, PLANNING and FINANCES

Leadership — Fostering respectful dialogue and listening to all points of view to bring projects to fruition

I offer proven leadership that puts the needs of the community first and consistently achieves the goals.

That is how I led the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee that successfully concluded negotiations with the faculty and completed several projects – technology upgrade, solar canopy, softball fields.

One example is the L-S Solar canopy – there were misgivings about the nature and scope of the project. As it was the right thing to do, I worked hard, developed consensus, answered questions, vetted financial models, lobbied the state government, and the project was successfully done - all with $0 capital investment. It is good for the environment, it is good for the town due to savings from utilities (over $1M), it is good for student learning, it is even good for parking lot maintenance.

Lincoln-Sudbury Graduation Remarks as L-S School Committee Chair

Planning — Establish a clear vision for Sudbury and implement it in a long-term capital plan we can achieve

We need to monitor and develop our town's long-term capital plan to keep our town's valuable infrastructure in good repair and methodically update and renovate our assets with predictable and publicly supported financial support.

Just as we take care of our houses and vehicles, regular maintenance and upgrade is essential for our town assets worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

At Lincoln Sudbury, I worked with town officials to advance a technology upgrade so that students were not going from technology-advanced homes to a technology-inadequate high school.

Finances – Sustainable, well-communicated budgets will meet more resident expectations while maximizing efficiency

Annual budgets ought to be prepared with clearly communicated mission and objectives from the leadership (top-down) and informed by the needs, wants, and asks from the departments (bottom-up) using the town guidance.

Additionally, when preparing this year’s budget, one should always project and prepare budgets for the next two years to see where the opportunities and challenges may arise.

As someone who took an interest in finances on the L-S committee and liaison to Sudbury and Lincoln, I was deeply involved in negotiations, designing fiscal policies, and addressing liabilities (OPEB, Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust), and steadily building a long-range capital plan fund (Stabilization Fund) as part of the annual operating budget.

SCHOOLS

Support our public schools to ensure they excel in meeting the needs of the whole child

As the son of a senior lecturer (professor) of English and a headmistress (principal) of a girls high school, as a former professor of Computer Science, as a father of two students of Sudbury schools and later college, and as a school committee member for 12 years, I know the incalculable value of a sound education and student care.

A great school system benefits not just the students but the entire community.

SPS lays the firm foundation, and L-S, our crown jewel, prepares our children for life.

I am acutely aware of the educational, emotional, and social supports that our students need. I ensured excellent learning and care for our children while at L-S and rewarding outcomes upon graduation for our diverse student body.

Recognizing the school committees’ primary role, I will do everything that I can to ensure our town’s commitment to education remains as strong as ever.

QUALITY OF LIFE

Inclusive Sudbury — It is critical, at this moment, for the Select Board to foster a sense of belonging for all residents

I believe in a Sudbury where all people are welcome, cherished, and valued. This is my inviolable promise.

I believe that the Select Board should see to it that our town’s services, resources, and facilities are available and accessible no matter where you live in town, no matter your income, no matter who you are, no matter your ability – for all interested residents of Sudbury.

I also believe the Select Board has an obligation to actively foster a sense of belonging and to stand up to hate in all its forms. I'm eager to advance the good work the Select Board has done in this area. We must lead from the front on inclusion.

At the risk of quoting myself, here is an excerpt from my 2018 L-S Graduation Remarks as L-S School Committee Chair on 6/3/2018:

"On previous occasions, I had shared my reflections based on what I learnt.

I will do the same this year, but with a difference. My source of learning is YOU – the students of Lincoln Sudbury High School.

I will give you five instances.

First, on March 14, you held a walk-out after the Parkland School shooting. You did it in a determined and calm manner, respectful of all points of view. We learnt of your desire for action.

Second, at a March 27^th meeting to mark the graduation of the first batch of Global Scholars, the discussion was about how to show empathy for students from different backgrounds. One student said simply: “Just be a decent human being.” At that meeting, we learnt of your capacity for empathy and compassion.

Third, on April 30^th, you held another walk-out about sexual assault. We heard your heartfelt appeals to treat each other with respect at all times. We saw your caring and your dignity.

Fourth, on May 1^st, School Committee members spent a full day attending all seven periods of classes with you. We attended classes from all departments. We saw excellent teaching, students who were eager to learn, ask questions, argue differing perspectives, but with a spirit of goodwill towards one another.

Fifth, on May 12^th, you put together an event “You are Here” conceived through an independent study called “Youth Advancing Youth”. In your words: “The purpose of this event is to inspire our community to become more in touch with themselves as well as the people around them.” We learnt about your leadership.

So, we see empathy and compassion here in front of us. We hear a call for treating each other with respect coming from here. We feel the desire for action in front of us.  We see leadership in front of us. We see a desire to learn, think, and grow.

Hang on to these qualities as you leave us. Never lose them. Come back and visit us and tell how you are doing.

There are times when the youth lead the way. This could be one of those times. You could be writing the story instead of reading about it."

Sustainable Sudbury — We must preserve our natural resources, build resilience, and protect public health. It’s morally and fiscally prudent

We must improve and expand policies to promote a more sustainable and energy independent Sudbury. The Select Board, working in collaboration with the Energy and Sustainability Committee, should constantly and proactively explore opportunities for energy efficiency and conservation in our town and school buildings, and deploy renewable energy sources, wherever possible, to address climate change. Considering the Climate Emergency Declaration article passed at the 2022 Annual Town Meeting, I am glad that the town is making Sustainability a key actionable priority for the town.

I worked long and hard for the installation of the Lincoln-Sudbury Solar Canopy that benefits L-S, our town, and our students' learning. I have the experience and vision to identify an opportunity and the persistence to make it happen.

4th of July Parade, 2024, Sudbury

Public Safety — Support our emergency responders and public health experts without hesitation, as they do for us

We are grateful for our public safety and emergency responders and public health experts. While we go about our business, they have but one mission – our safety and well-being. They do it with acts seen and unseen.

We need to enhance safety for all by consulting with first responders and by offering public health support services. We need to ensure that our public works and infrastructure offer the necessary safety features. We should keep implementing hazard mitigation measures.

Haynes Meadow

Recreation — A hallmark of life in Sudbury, which needs continued investment for health and community connection

We should continue to maintain and enhance our town's rich variety of resources. With DCR expected to begin paving the Mass Central Rail Trail this spring, and the next phase of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail on the horizon, we must not lose focus on the importance of finishing the work and planning future connections.

The Fields Needs Assessment is underway and the Open Space and Recreation Plan must be prioritized. The completion of those efforts will give Sudbury a roadmap to ensure we strategically and sustainably invest in our recreation and open space assets.

4th of July Parade, 2024, Sudbury

ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Vibrant Sudbury Commerce – Diversify our tax base through smart growth in our existing commercial corridors

We have so much opportunity in Sudbury to bolster our economic resilience. We could possibly even mitigate the tax burden shouldered by our residential taxpayers if we plan ahead.

Town sewers on Route 20 can spur economic revitalization without fundamentally altering Sudbury. Higher-value, in-demand commercial properties generate more tax revenue for the Town than vacant storefronts. This is the time to think ahead. We should have a vision that helps Sudbury attract desirable partners to our business community who can in turn deliver valued goods, services, and employment opportunities to residents.

We also can do more to support our existing businesses. We've seen too many treasured businesses closing in Sudbury in recent years. With more robust collaboration between the Town, the Chamber of Commerce, and the business community as a whole, we can chart a course that is mutually beneficial for residents and the local business community.