Welcome to the campaign to Elect Melissa Freitag to Falmouth’s Board of Selectmen. We’re confident that as you learn more about the candidate, you’ll agree that Melissa is the smart choice to serve us and help lead Falmouth into the future.

Over the years, Melissa has established a solid record of serving Cape Cod towns as a teacher and a volunteer, of commitment to fiscal responsibility, and of dedication to environmental protection. She will bring years of municipal fiscal experience and consensus building with her to Town Hall. Melissa has the credentials, foundation, drive, and passion to effectively and responsibly lead Falmouth into the future.

The role of government is to protect and serve the people. As a Selectman, Melissa will listen to, learn about, and act upon the issues and concerns of all Falmouth constituents. A lifelong teacher and academic, Melissa is ready to apply her skills to advocate for ALL residents of our environmentally exquisite, historically significant, and commercially dynamic home.

Nicole Friedler Photography, Vineyard Haven

Town Government Service

• Falmouth Historical Commission, Vice-Chair
• Falmouth Community Preservation Committee
• Orleans Finance Committee
• Orleans Charter Review Committee

• Orleans Water Quality Task Force
• Orleans Conservation Trust
• Nauset Heights Association, Environmental Committee
• Friends of Nauset, Inc., Charter Member, former Trustee

• Government and History Faculty, Cape Cod Community College
• History Teacher, Nauset Regional High School
• World Language Teacher, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional Schools and Medfield (MA) Public Schools
• German Teacher, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School

• Brown University, Master's degree
• Universität Innsbruck, M. Ed. equivalent
• Smith College, Bachelor's degree

It is the issues of the Constituents that matter most, and will take priority with Melissa as she serves Falmouth voters as Selectman. Amongst the most important are:

Fiscal Responsibility... In the current economic climate, we must be more fiscally vigilant than ever. With the real potential for lost Commonwealth aid, budget cuts are possible. We need creative solutions to help us continue to balance our budget while maintaining essential programs. A broad perspective is needed in seeking efficiencies and trimming selectively as a first step in tightening the budget. Supporting economic growth in our traditional sectors such as tourism, small business, health care, research and technology, while encouraging growth in new market sectors, will generate new revenues for Falmouth. Comprehensive capital planning also needs to occur in transparent fashion. As a fiscally responsible citizen, and one who understands that it’s “really all about the bottom line,” Melissa will work with others on the Board, the Finance Committee, and in Town Hall to ensure that Falmouth’s budget remains balanced.

Environmental Protection... must occur at both the Local and Global levels. As an ecologically sensitive area, Falmouth must be vigilant in protecting our fresh water supply. Reducing nitrogen loading and constructing sewers are important to preserve both fresh and salt water resources. We must acquire and maintain Open Space, and zone to protect our natural resources.

Waste water treatment is a pressing and important issue in town, and the potential costs are enormous. Melissa’s balanced objectivity will help the town make the most economically and environmentally sound decisions.

With over 80 miles of coastline, Falmouth is particularly vulnerable to climate change. The Commonwealth has outlined guidelines to reduce carbon output, but to mitigate climate change, communities need to do more. Falmouth belongs to ICLEI, an international council of Local Governments for Sustainability. We need to implement our “Falmouth Climate Action Plan”, drafted with data generated from energy audits conducted with ICLEI’s assistance. Reducing resource consumption, as well as transitioning to modern energy solutions, simultaneously reduces pollution and energy costs. We need to grow sustainably.

Nicole Friedler Photography, Vineyard Haven

Affordable Housing... Falmouth needs to be affordable to the people who work here. If we wish to keep our community healthy and diverse, we need to generate jobs and provide housing opportunities for successive generations. Implementing our new Affordable Housing Action Plan should take high priority in town planning and investment. The benefits of 40R and Smart Growth need to be championed. Balance between affordable development and open space must be sought in each potential housing solution. The Commonwealth mandates that each community has 10% of its housing stock be deeded Affordable. Falmouth slowly approaches this goal, but we need to do more to stem the tide of 40B development. Growth and development are positive factors in life, so long as they are undertaken sustainably and with reason.

Educational Support... We must maintain our investment in education to increase academic excellence and create skilled workers and entrepreneurs to keep Falmouth a viable community and maintain our economy. We need to offer a stellar K-12 education program to attract and keep families with school-aged children. Always an advocate for children, Melissa will guard our educational system and encourage sound funding for sound pedagogy. Let’s continue to raise Falmouth’s children to be responsible citizens and civic participants.

Melissa Freitag comes from a family with a tradition of serving the community, from ancestors who chartered one of the first Massachusetts towns, through parents who served on Finance, Planning, and School committees. A longtime Cape Codder, Melissa embodies what it means to serve. It is now the time for Melissa to continue her career of service at a higher level – as a member of Falmouth’s Board of Selectmen.

We're always happy to accept help and support from volunteers and contributors. How can you help? Would you like to host/hostess a "Get to know Melissa" coffee or tea? Hand out campaign flyers and goodies? Place a sign in your yard? Sponsor a fundraiser? Contribute to postage and mailings? Anything else? We THANK YOU for your support!

Volunteers are always needed. If you would like to:

• host a yard sign,
• receive literature to pass out to friends,
• meet the candidate, or,
• help out in any other way,

Send contributions to:

Freitag turns to Falmouth town politics [capecodonline.com]

Freitag Offers Falmouth Diplomacy and Teaching Skills [capecodtoday.com]

Interview on Plum TV, Martha's Vineyard, August 17, 2008 [plumtv.com]