Lowell Sun: Dracut’s Alison Genest announces re-election bid

DRACUT – Incumbent Selectman Alison Genest has announced she is a candidate for re-election to the Board of Selectmen in the May 6 town election.

“Dracut is in great shape right now and we need to make sure things stay on the right track,” Genest said in a video announcement released on her AlisonLovesDracut.com website and Facebook page. “We have strong leadership at town hall, town finances are in good condition and capital improvement projects are being tackled all over town. I’m running for re-election — and asking for your vote — to keep the positive momentum.”

Genest said she has worked collaboratively with fellow selectmen and the town manager to keep Dracut affordable, strengthen planning and oversight, and support the town’s police officers and firefighters.

Genest was elected to the board in 2020. She topped the ticket in a five-candidate race, winning 9 precincts and tying in the 10th. For the last two years, Genest has served as chairman of the board. She previously served as the board’s vice chair. She serves as co-chair of the board’s Economic Development subcommittee and Public Safety subcommittee.

She made a campaign promise to develop and implement an annual goal-setting process for selectmen and the town government. At her first meeting as a Selectman, Genest proposed a goal-setting process. It was adopted and has been in place for the last three years.

“The annual goal-setting process helps guide the town’s success,” Genest said. “In addition to providing high-level direction for the town manager and her team, as well as ensuring everyone is working toward the same objectives, the process provides absolute transparency for taxpayers about what our local government is doing, why we’re doing it and how we’re doing it to keep Dracut moving forward.”

Genest has nearly 30 years of private-sector experience in financial services. Her career as a leadership and development professional includes extensive budgeting, management and oversight experience. Genest is a graduate of Dracut High School and the University of Lowell, where she earned a finance degree.

During her first-term on the board, Genest said she focused on open space and preservation, forming the Beaver Brook Farm Development Ad-Hoc subcommittee and successfully pushing for the implementation of guidelines for the purchase, use and maintenance of land bought with community preservation funds.

Genest said she also has helped town residents with a wide variety of issues affecting quality of life, including zoning, public safety, trash pickup, graffiti removal, sidewalk clearing and traffic signage.