Name, age and address
G. Edward Bradley, 67, 51A Cliff Street Plymouth
Wanted office
Select advice
Education
Plymouth Public Schools, 1973 graduate of Plymouth Carver Regional High School
Numerous certifications and specific training related to fire safety and public safety
Current job
Beantown AC Inc., Plymouth
Community involvement
Retired since April 2022 – Plymouth Fire Service after 47 years and 6 months
Local utility
Fire chief 14 years, 4 months
Other credentials
Massachusetts Licensed Building Supervisor – Unrestricted
Why are you looking for this office?
I believe that the first duty of a local administration is the protection of its citizens, which has been my job for more than 47 years. I hope to win the votes of citizens to continue this mission but in a different capacity.
I will work to unify city councils and committees to attract business to Plymouth, which will increase business tax revenue and help reduce the tax burden on our residents. There is common ground, and I will work to reach that common ground and move the city forward.
Do you support the early dismissal of former city manager Arrighi? Please explain.
I support the change of city managers. Ms. Arrighi’s last contract was exceptionally long; I have never seen a previous contract longer than three years. I believe the board should have terminated Melissa’s term when she approached the select board asking to be relieved of the final year of her contract. If the CEO (city manager) of a large corporation (the city) went to the company’s board of directors (small board) to ask him to leave his job early, the board of directors would immediately break the job ; the same should have happened in this situation.
Are you satisfied with the current form of municipal government? What specific changes, if any, would you like to see, and why?
Our current form of government, with representative members of the municipal assembly, has worked for the good of the city for generations. My father was a member of the Town Meeting in the mid-1960s. However, in today’s world, this form of government cannot move quickly enough to satisfactorily conduct the affairs of the town. The commitment of the municipal assembly twice a year, with the option of calling a special municipal assembly for the appropriation of funds or to conduct other business, is not enough to serve residents and ratepayers well. We need changes that allow the city to act immediately when needed.
Do you support the creation of an equestrian complex of any kind in Plymouth? Please explain your position.
I do not support a horse racing complex in Plymouth. I question the sustainability of horse racing in Massachusetts after seeing other tracks close. Without subsidy, like a casino, horse racing is not a lucrative proposition. At one time, seven separate fairs made up the Massachusetts horse racing fair circuit as well as the Suffolk Downs. Today, only one harness racing track still operates in the state, Plainridge Park in Plainville. Plymouth is not the place for this activity, and history proves that it is not a sustainable operation.
Name another significant problem facing Plymouth. How would you approach it as a board member?
Another big issue for Plymouth is working to attract the right kind of businesses to the city to help build the business tax base. The city needs to show future business owners that we will work to expedite their approvals. Plymouth has a reputation for not being friendly to new business; the multiple committees and councils, which sometimes overlap powers, slow down the approval process. Time is money for a business owner, especially in today’s markets. I would advocate that individual committees and boards work together to streamline approvals without reducing appropriate oversight.
