Dear Fellow Hopkinton Residents,

I write to you in support of Shahidul Mannan for re-election to the Hopkinton Select Board. I did not know Shahidul before he was elected to his first term on the Select Board. Since then, I have contacted him many times with my thoughts, concerns, and requests regarding Hopkinton’s town government.

Every time, I found Shahidul to be available, willing to listen, and talk about my thoughts or concerns, and he explained his thought process on each issue. This transparency was very refreshing.

Shahidul has served the Town of Hopkinton for over 10 years on various boards and committees. He has served on the Appropriations Committee, Planning Board, and Growth Study Committee. Furthermore, he has been a member of the Community Preservation Committee and the Elementary School Building Committee. He is a current member of the Select Board.

As a member of the Select Board, Shahidul has been involved in solving our water issues (PFAS/MWRA). In addition, he has helped create our first Economic Development Office, advocated for expanded senior tax credits, and supported Hopkinton’s school system.

For me, Shahidul’s most significant contribution was his vote to maintain the Hopkinton Public Safety Dispatch. Over a year ago, the Select Board discussed a new idea. Hopkinton was considering joining three nearby towns in a central dispatch center in Westborough. Shahidul listened carefully to all the information. He was one of three members who voted to keep public safety dispatch in Hopkinton.

Hopkinton will be facing many critical issues in the years to come. The most pressing seem to be public safety, schools, water supply, and tax revenue. Shahidul’s education, experience on boards and committees, and his willingness to listen to residents’ concerns make Shahidul the right choice to be elected to our Select Board on May 19th.

Patrick O’Brien
Hopkinton

Editor’s Note: The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of HopNews. Letters may be edited for clarity, grammar, and length.