Letter: Rachel Hughes Seeks Seat on Hanover Select Board

Why I'm Running for Hanover Select Board

As a proud resident of Hanover for the past 10 years, I am excited to announce my candidacy for the Select Board. 

Growing up in East Bridgewater, I always admired Hanover’s commitment to its schools, safety, and sense of community.  When I left the south shore in 2001, I had high hopes of returning someday. I graduated from Simmons College, where I studied Economics and Marketing and received my Masters in Business Administration at the Simmons School of Management. My husband John and I have been married since 2008, and have three wonderful children, Fiona (9), Anderson (6), and Dahlia (5). I currently serve as the Vice President of Loyalty Solutions at Fidelity Investments. And in the summer of 2015, John and I left NYC for Massachusetts and Hanover was on the top of our list. I was thrilled to be back on the south shore, close to family and friends and joining a welcoming community.

As a parent, I believe deeply in the power of giving back, volunteering, and advocating for the things that matter most. In 2017, with an infant at home, I joined the campaign to support the renovation of Center School because I understood the importance of investing in education—not just for my own children’s future, but for all the children in our school system. In 2018, I became a member of the Hanover Cultural Council, supporting arts and music programs. For the past five years, I’ve worked on the Hanover Day planning committee, contributing to our annual fair that brings the community together in celebration.

In 2022, I was appointed to the Advisory Committee, where I gained invaluable insight into municipal finance and the fiscal challenges we face as a town. It became clear that Hanover was at a tipping point. Our operating budgets were beginning to outpace revenue, and tough decisions about prioritization and funding would need to be made. After years of driving efficiencies, there’s no more room to cut without impacting essential services. And with a failed override in 2024, our town was in a difficult financial position. Based on my Advisory Committee experience and my interest in the schools, I was selected out of seven candidates to be appointed to the School Committee for a one-year term. I have continued to advocate for our schools and support the budget process. While I hope the town budget override passes, we can’t just look at each year’s budget in isolation. We need to consider the long-term impact of the choices we make today. 

There’s no magic solution—if we don’t secure additional funding through a tax increase, we’ll need to make hard choices about what services we can maintain and which ones we can’t. But we also need to look for new sources of revenue, like attracting more businesses to Hanover, to balance our town’s growth. As we navigate the challenges ahead, we need a comprehensive, long-term strategy to ensure that Hanover remains the vibrant, thriving community we all love. That is why I’m running for Select Board. Our town faces difficult decisions in the years to come, and we need leadership that’s focused on sustainable growth, fiscal responsibility, and smart planning. My top priorities: 

-       Ensure Hanover remains a place where strong schools, vibrant community programs, and public safety are priorities: Supporting our schools with smaller class sizes and programs that foster a love of learning. Continuing to fund essential programs like mental health services, veteran services, public safety initiatives, and resources for our seniors. Protecting our police and fire departments and ensuring they have the shift strength to provide adequate support and resources. Hanover is a town known for its commitment to its people, and I want to ensure we preserve these critical services for future generations.

-       Continue advocating for a fairer tax structure. In November, I played a pivotal role in influencing the Select Board to increase the commercial-residential tax split, which puts more of the tax burden on businesses. I’ll continue to explore ways to attract new businesses to Hanover, helping our town grow and thrive without sacrificing the services our residents rely on.

-       Grow our revenue base by focusing on new business growth and revenue sources: Senator Keenan recently shared that the communities with a strong business base will be the ones best suited to get through these trying times. And I believe that we have rebuilt a strong foundation and we need to continue to foster that growth. Businesses are attracted to strong communities with good schools, active residents and vibrant community events. Let's keep it up. 

-       Fully support our CPA Surcharge at 3%: Although not a Select Board decision, our CPA funds are a hot topic in town. Hanover is a community that values its parks and trails and wants to preserve its land. It is part of what makes Hanover an attractive community. I would find it wasteful to leave money on the table by reducing our surcharge and therefore limiting our total match available. 

If you believe in Hanover and want to ensure that our town continues to thrive, I ask for your support on May 17th. I am ready to roll up my sleeves and work for you. If you want to get involved in my campaign, whether by hosting a sign, helping with outreach, or donating, I welcome your support. Together, we can ensure Hanover’s best days are still ahead of us.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to earning your vote.

-Rachel Hughes