Leadership for Community

My connection to Dedham runs deep. I grew up attending Greenlodge School and graduated from Dedham High School. Now, raising my family here with my husband Tim and our children Thomas, Amelia, and Keira, I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible sense of community that makes our town extraordinary.

I recognize a growing frustration with some local decision-making—a wavering trust that demands reflective consideration of how we incorporate resident feedback. One of my key priorities is to assess how we work across town departments, volunteer-led committees, and boards. Too often, communication and silos prevent us from moving critical projects forward effectively. I am committed to breaking down these barriers, fostering more inclusive conversations, and collaborative solutions.

Fiscal responsibility remains a crucial focus. As Chair of the Financial Policies Committee, I led cost-controlling changes to our financial policies. Moving forward, we must comprehensively evaluate our town’s revenue streams, opportunities, operating efficiency, and expenses to address structural budget deficits. This means engaging my colleagues in a collaborative process to explore innovative solutions to keep taxes affordable for our residents.

I’ve advocated for maintaining essential town services, fighting to preserve crucial supports like curbside trash removal and road and sidewalk maintenance that benefit individuals, families, and older adults. My approach has always been to seek balanced, practical solutions that serve our entire community.

My continued priorities include:

• Managing our budget
• Supporting town revenue
• Addressing the needs of older adults, including tax affordability solutions
• Investing in and maintaining town infrastructure
• Ensuring safe roads
• Promoting recreation
• Creating a welcoming town culture for all

The public’s trust is paramount. I am committed to fostering open communication, listening to diverse perspectives, and working to break down organizational barriers that can impede progress and spread misinformation.

To me, Dedham is more than just a town—it’s home. With dedicated staff, volunteers, and community members, we have an incredible foundation upon which to build. I am asking for your support to continue this important work, ask meaningful questions, and lead with respect and reason.

I hope to earn one of your two votes on Saturday, April 12th, and continue serving Dedham with passion and commitment. erinfordedham@gmail.com