John Crisley for Wakefield

I'm a 25-year-long resident of Wakefield, and have spent most of my professional career in the public sector serving the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a construction and energy efficiency project manager.

My wife, Kerry, and I raised our two children in the Greenwood neighborhood. They attended the Greenwood School, and were fortunate to be among the first classes of students to learn at the new Galvin Middle School.

We chose to live in Wakefield for its excellent schools, its classic New England downtown, convenient access to both public transportation and highways, and the amazing recreational opportunities at both Lake Quannapowitt and Breakheart Reservation.

I grew up in Needham. I graduated from Needham High School,  received a BA in Political Science from UMass Amherst and an MPA from Indiana University. My parents were strong believers in public education and public service. My dad was a WWII Army veteran who served in Europe. Through the G.I. Bill, he earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology and went on to chair the Biology Department at Northeastern University. My mom was at home with my sisters and me until returning to the workforce, eventually becoming the Executive Director of the Wellesley Council on Aging.