Falmouth Candidate Profile: Onjalé Scott Price For Select Board

Falmouth MA

30 April, 2021

2:15 PM

Description

FALMOUTH, MA — Falmouth's town election is May 18. Falmouth Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles over the coming weeks. Onjalé Scott Price is one of two candidates running for a seat on the Falmouth Select Board. Incumbent Select Board member Douglas Jones chose not to seek reelection, so Michael Heylin and Price will compete for the open seat. Are you running for office in Falmouth? Contact Jimmy Bentley at [email protected] for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Falmouth Patch. Learn a little more about Price in the profile below: Age (as of Election Day) 32 Position Sought Select Board Family Husband, André Price Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No Education Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering & Master of Business Administration Occupation Chief Operating Officer, Mizar Imaging (3 years) & Co-Director, Woods Hole Partnership Education Program (multiple roles spanning 10 years) Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office Falmouth Affordable Housing Committee, Woods Hole Diversity Advisory Committee Campaign website https://www.electonjalescottpr... & https://www.facebook.com/Onjal... Why are you seeking elective office? I am running for a seat on the Falmouth Select Board because I amcommitted to the town and people of Falmouth. I want to serve the community I love, and I have the skills, experience and knowledge to do so effectively. I will work collaboratively to tackle the issues in our town and maintain the aspects we love.The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it. One of the most pressing issues facing our community is the affordablehousing crisis. This crisis affects our community in multiple ways, and tackling it would be beneficial to the entire community. Affordable housing is about justice and equity. The people who make our economy thrive - teachers, police and service industry employees - deserve to live in the town they work.There is also the environmental impact of long commutes. Driving adds to our carbon footprint. Commuting vehicles also add to our ever growing parking problem, especially in downtown Falmouth.As a Select Board Member I will continue the work I have done with the Falmouth Affordable Housing Committee to find a wider range of options to tackle this crisis. I will continue exploring location and funding options. A diversification of funding will allow for more flexibility in the construction of affordable housing projects and allow the option for renovating current buildings. What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? A critical difference between myself and the other candidate is that I chose Falmouth as my home. I had no choice in being born and raised in Southern California, but when I did have the choice of where I wanted to settle with my family, I chose Falmouth. I love Falmouth and have continued to show my love through my service. I am a member of the Woods Hole Diversity Advisory Committee, the Falmouth Affordable Housing Committee, and I co-host and co-produce a show on FCTV called The Conversation on FCTV. I come to this position with fresh eyes and open ears. If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency) How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently? Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform. The opioid epidemic is a devastating issue affecting our entire community. Sadly, there has been a 20% increase in overdoses in the last year. If elected, I will use my position as Select Board member to openly discuss the crisis and educate the public. Via the town manager I will work closely with Police Chief Dunne and Health and Human Services Director Susie Hauptmann to ensure their departments have the funding and resources needed. I will also work to learn and understand the underlying causes of addiction in our community to better help and serve those with addiction issues, and help spread that understanding to the community. What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? During my year of AmeriCorps service, I served part-time (20 hours/week) on Th, Sat and Sundays, while working full-time (40 hours/week) M, T, W, F.In the summer of 2020 I maintained my current position as COO of Mizar Imaging, became Acting Director of the Woods Hole Partnership Education Program and completed my Master of Business Administration. Both of these examples are evidence that I am capable of managing several important responsibilities simultaneously, and doing them all well.Additionally, I have been working on Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) issues for over 10 years through conversations, meetings and activities. JEDI work can be difficult, and sometimes just having conversations can be uncomfortable. I understand that as a member of the Select Board I will encounter challenging and uncomfortable situations. My JEDI work has helped me sharpen my active listening skills, be patient and respect everyone. I will bring these qualities and more to the Select Board. The best advice ever shared with me was: "Lift as you climb," which means to constantly uplift and support others as I "climb." I think back on this advice often, as a reminder to constantly support others in my journey. What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions? This race isn't just about me or my opponent. To me, it's about building a more affordable, resilient, equitable town for all of Falmouth.