Sami Baghdady: What we see is what we get.

Last night (Monday 3/24) during the League of Women Voter’s vetting session the two candidates running for a seat on the Board of Selectmen were asked about their backgrounds as lawyers. Both Roger Colton and Sami Baghdady referred to themselves as having day jobs working as lawyers. Sami Baghdady responded that he has been a licensed, practicing lawyer in Massachusetts for 27 years. Roger Colton’s answer however, quickly dissolved into a grey area. After naming ten or twelve states in which he could work as a lawyer, and he included a couple provinces in Canada, Mr. Colton finally admitted his license to practice law is in Iowa.

The statement “I work as a lawyer” is a game of semantics. I have to believe that “working as a lawyer” in most constituent’s views, implies that a person has studied law, sat for a bar exam in a particular state, passed that exam and then received a license to practice law. I would offer a fair comparison in turn to say “I work as a medical doctor” but not be a licensed medical physician by the state that you purport to work in. It just doesn’t work that way. Perhaps some folks will choose to ignore this lack of the whole truth, but it is an important glimpse into how Roger Colton presents himself.

The question about his wife Anne Lougee being on the school committee was also brought up as a possible conflict of interest. In both of these instances it would have been much more transparent for Roger Colton to say “I work as a legal consultant/advisor” and in the case of his wife’s position on the School Committee, to simply state that in his bio. It honestly doesn’t sit well with folks who pay attention when facts are reluctantly revealed later on in a campaign.

Sami, however, has nothing to hide. He’s lived in town for over four decades and been a practicing lawyer for 27 years. Because of his time on the Warrant Committee, Sami knows we live in a town that’s revenue-challenged. He is keenly aware that our taxes must be spent wisely. In the case of the Underwood pool, the bike path and plans for the high school for example, he displays the patience to look at all sides and a willingness to guide the process toward a logical compromise which all parties can live with.

As a member of the Planning Board, Sami has looked ahead and planned for future development in Belmont. In the case of the Cushing Square proposal, Sami has put in countless hours ensuring that the project is designed for sustainable growth. He’s helped identify this project’s impact on Belmont’s infrastructure while carefully weighing the concerns of neighbors. Sami’s involvement and dedication to the Cushing Square development project shows that he truly cares about Belmont and its future. During the process of molding the project’s design into an acceptable format, Sami did not work on promoting his own agenda, as his opponent did. Instead, Sami considered all sides, all the time. Development will continue to roll out in Belmont, and it’s important that Belmont residents elect a Selectman who will ensure that it’s done right.

This is why I am wholeheartedly voting for Sami Baghdady. The choice is easy. What we see is what we get!