'I understand how things get done': Natick's Evans running for Select Board

NATICK — Whether he’s on the field with his Babe Ruth baseball players or at the table with Natick’s Finance Committee, volunteerism and leadership are second nature for Bruce Evans.

The Natick resident has served in a number of volunteer roles in the community, and in March he hopes to add one more: Select Board member.

“I understand how things get done,” said Evans, a 12-year veteran of the town’s Finance Committee, which deliberates and makes recommendations on proposals that pass through Town Meeting.

“The Select Board, as currently constituted, has made some great strides, I think,” he said in a phone interview. “But they’re losing two very good, experienced members.”

Incumbents Sue Salamoff and Vice Chair Rick Jennett have both announced they will not seek re-election, leaving two seats up for grabs on March 29. In addition to Evans, Cody Jacobs and Kathryn Coughlin have launched campaigns for Select Board.

Who is Evans?

Evans, a retired computer software executive with a finance background, grew up in a household that valued giving back. His father served on the Planning Board in their New Jersey community and was later a councilman, setting an example of volunteerism, according to Evans.

He followed in his father’s footsteps, volunteering as a baseball and basketball coach and becoming involved with the Morse Institute Library and The Center for Arts in Natick.

More: With eye on transparency, Cody Jacobs joins Natick's Select Board race

And then there’s his work with the Finance Committee, for which he serves as secretary. Evans said his time on the committee has made him familiar with the municipal budgeting process and taught him to weigh differing viewpoints in making decisions.

Evans said he has often gone into committee meetings thinking he’d vote one way, only to hear a compelling argument from the opposing side and change his mind.

“It’s not digging in the heels, ‘This is my agenda, come hell or high water,’” he said of his process. “It’s necessary that you get the information that you need to make the decision and make sure it’s accurate data and make informed decisions.”

Coming up on his term limit for the Finance Committee and feeling that his work with town government is still unfinished, Evans saw the Select Board as his next logical step.

Efficiency, affordability and smart development

He praised the Select Board’s work in examining Natick’s equity needs, asserting that representation of diverse viewpoints leads to better outcomes.

Like his two opponents, Evans emphasized the importance of reexamining Natick’s governance structure to see if it meets the town’s needs.

More: 'The needs of the town have grown': Natick's Coughlin running for Select Board

“Town Meeting type of government is democracy in action, with all its warts,” he said. “Sometimes it works perfectly. Other times, it’s like a slog through the mud, like, ‘Are we ever going to get things done here? Why is it so difficult to make progress?’”

He said his background lends itself to analyzing the town’s operational and financial management.

“Coming to that job with a fresh set of eyes, I think there are a lot of good things that the town and the Select Board are doing,” Evans said. “What I’d like to accomplish is making sure that we’re as efficiently run as possible.”

Likewise, he’s in favor of “smart development” that meets the town’s growing needs without straining its resources.

Housing affordability is also key, as many families strain their budgets just to afford living in Natick, according to Evans. He said he would like to see the Select Board address the issue, though he acknowledged housing is a widespread regional issue that won’t be solved by local efforts alone.

While Evans already knows a fair number of community members through his various volunteer roles, he said he’s looking forward to meeting even more as his campaign ramps up. His goal, he said, is to understand the issues that matter most to Natick residents and hear their concerns.

“I think it's important to honestly listen, and have them feel that they've been heard,” he said.

Abby Patkin is a multimedia journalist for the Daily News. Follow Abby on Twitter @AMPatkin. She can be reached at apatkin@wickedlocal.com.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Natick MA Select Board 2022: Bruce Evans throws hat into the ring