Election 2009: Boland Kicks Off Council Campaign Aug. 28
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — City Council candidate Michael Boland will kick off his campaign on Friday, Aug. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Freight Yard Pub.Boland, one of 15 candidates running for City Council, looks forward to meeting prospective voters at the kickoff event. There will be complimentary hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar and entertainment. The voters of North Adams are encouraged to meet the candidate, ask questions, share ideas and consider signing up to work on the campaign.
Boland was educated in the North Adams Public School System from kindergarten through graduating from Drury High School in 1986. He left North Adams to attend Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire, where he received a bachelor's degree in sociology in 1990. He returned to the area in 1992 and has spent the past 17 years in the field of human services as program director, clinician, manager, counselor, supervisor and educator, for both non-profit agencies and state-operated programs. These positions have afforded him the opportunity to develop a broad understanding of the issues that affect people's lives and the efforts necessary to support a better quality of life for all citizens of North Adams.
He earned his master's degree in education, specializing in rehabilitation and disabilities, from Springfield College in 2003. As a graduate student, he received a scholarship from the Rehabilitation Services Administration and also received an award for excellence in the Rehabilitation Department. In 2004, he was certified as a rehabilitation counselor, or CRC. His leadership and critical thinking skills are emphasized through collaboration and teamwork among colleagues and administration. He values the principles of lifelong learning and as a visiting instructor at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and an annual lecturer at Springfield College, he immensely enjoys the responsibility of teaching and instruction.
In addition to Boland's educational and professional experience, he has served on communitywide committees that address issues related to housing and homelessness, downtown revitalization, legislative advocacy and substance abuse. He served as vice president for three years for the former Downtown Development Inc. and chaired its Friends of the Mohawk Theater Committee for five years. He was named one of Northern Berkshires 50 Most Influential People in the North Adams Transcript's initial profile of community members. He has been a member of the North Adams Human Service Commission for the past seven years. Boland continues to be actively involved in youth sports and is proud to be raising his three children in a community that offers so many varied activities for their youth.
As a city councilor, Boland said he will utilize his problem-solving, organizational and leadership skills to address issues affecting the quality of life for all residents of our city. These issues include housing, downtown revitalization, community-building initiatives and improving the efficiency of the city's boards and commissions to meet the diverse needs of individuals, businesses and families in our city.
If you have questions or would like additional information about Boland's candidacy, he can be contacted at 413-664-9526.
Submitted by the Committee to Elect Mike Boland for City Council
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