For Salem’s Future.

I am pleased to announce my candidacy for a three-year term on the Salem Budget Committee.

My wife and our three kids relocated to Salem in 2015; we've thoroughly enjoyed our time here and are proud to call Salem our home. With my daughter attending North Salem Elementary School, one son at Woodbury Middle School, and my oldest son in Salem High School, our commitment to Salem's future is deeply rooted.

Over the past twenty years, I have worked professionally in Government Finance. I served the MA Office of the Comptroller for fifteen years in various roles, including as the Chief of Strategic Communications. I am currently the Assistant Executive Director and Chief Communications Officer of the MA Teachers' Retirement System. Additionally, I actively contributed to leadership roles within the Boston chapter of the Association of Government Accountants (AGA) for several years.

Our family lives in North Salem and is heavily involved in the Salem Performing Arts Music Club (PAMC), where my wife serves as the Vice President. I've enjoyed interacting with the talented kids from the outstanding performing arts program. Salem boasts exceptional sports, arts, and activities programs and clubs for diverse interests and abilities, nurturing our children's social, educational, and creative growth.

I've been lucky in my career to have mentors who instilled in me a high level of ethics and integrity. Good governance comes from diverse perspectives, intellectual honesty, and a commitment to evidence-based problem-solving.

Salem is evolving rapidly, and the transformations since my arrival in 2015 are undeniable. While growth and change bring opportunities, they can also create an identity crisis. As a community, we must navigate this dynamic landscape by balancing the needs and aspirations of longtime residents with a forward-looking vision. My guiding principle in personal and professional endeavors is to leave things better than I found them. I am dedicated to applying this philosophy to my service on the Budget Committee.

I am not asking for your vote; I aim to earn it by demonstrating my dedication to serving Salem and leveraging my professional government expertise for the town's prosperous future.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Scott Olsen, Candidate for Budget Committee (three-year term)