Lindsey Marie Dunlevy-Tosto: Select Board candidate focused on MBTA, infrastructure

TEWKSBURY — The contested race for the two open seats on the Tewksbury Select Board involves six candidates, one of whom is third-generation Tewksbury resident, Lindsey Marie Dun­levy-Tosto.

Dunlevy-Tosto graduated from Tewksbury Me­morial High School in 2012, and continued her education at the Univer­sity of New Hampshire, where she earned a Ba­chelor of Science in Bu­siness Administration with a concentration in Accoun­ting and Finance.

After graduation, Dun­levy-Tosto began her ca­reer in public accounting at Ernst & Young, where she completed her Certified Public Account­ant (CPA) license, and currently works at Stan­dish Management as a fund accountant working with private equity and venture capital funds.

In 2022, Dunlevy-Tosto and her husband be­came homeowners in Tewks­bury, and they now happily reside here, in her home town of Tewks­bury, with their beloved rescue dog, Brydge.

The deep desire to give back to the community she loves is the driving force behind Dunlevy-Tosto’s can­didacy, and she hopes to ap­ply her experience in fi­nance and strategic planning to help guide the town through the many challenges ahead in the near future.

The MBTA housing mandate is a contentious issue for many residents of Tewks­bury, as well as other mu­nicipalities, and Dunlevy-Tosto shares residents' concerns about the impact the housing mandate may have on the community’s character and infrastructure.

Prioritizing open communication and community engagement is an impor­tant part of Dunlevy-Tos­to’s plan to navigate the town through this process.

“I will advocate for regular forums where residents can directly voice their concerns and ensure that accurate, accessible information is provided through the town website, including updates, FAQ’s and visuals of proposed zoning and development plans,” Dun­levy-Tosto said.

Other municipalities are challenging the legal merits of this mandate, however, Dunlevy-Tosto warns although these court proceedings could delay im­plementation, there may al­so be costly consequences for noncompliance.

“Noncompliance can have consequences, as seen with Middleborough losing a grant for not meeting the MBTA zoning requirements,” Dunlevy-Tosto said. “It is critical for Tewksbury to open discussions with the state officials to seek local flexibility, such as more time to meet housing targets, or adaptive zoning policies that align with our community’s needs.”

Addressing the town’s aging water infrastructure is also a priority for Dun­levy-Tosto, and she realizes this will require exten­sive planning and resour­ces. She has proposed several immediate actions she would take as a board member.

“First, we’ll establish a clear communication plan with real-time updates on water conditions and re­pair timelines. I will work to secure state and federal grants to fund necessary improvements, and partner with neighboring towns and experts to explore shared solutions,” Dunle­vy-Tosto stated.

She would also like to im­plement a residential as­sistance program to help those residents that have been affected by the disruptions in the water in­frastructure.

Other priorities for Dun­levy-Tosto are supporting policies for affordable hou­sing for seniors, young fa­milies and professionals, ensuring police, fire and emergency services are well funded to ensure public safety, and to advocate for the protection of green spaces and create parks and conservation areas to improve air and water qua­lity.

Working together with board members and other local and state officials, Dunlevy-Tosto plans to help create a community that is sustainable, affordable and safe for all residents and for generations to come.

To find out more about Lindsey Dunlevy-Tosto and her campaign platform, visit www.lindseydunlevytosto4tewksbury.com or e­mail her directly at lindseymdtosto@gmail.com.