Lang: Experience Provides Best Understanding of the Issues

Name: David Lang

Age: 63

Street: 2 Fosters Point

Family: Married to wife Eileen for 40 years and we have three wonderful children Katie (BHS 1997), Keith (BHS 2002) and James (BHS 2004). With the excellent educational background at BHS, all three excelled in college and have successful careers. Katie is a genetic counselor and Keith and James are electrical engineers.

Employment: I am President of Ground Water Consultants, Inc. (GWC)., a Beverly-based business and a Licensed Site Professional (LSP) by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As an LSP I am authorized to assess and cleanup hazardous waste sites.

Political and community experience and involvement: Beverly Conservation Commission 22 years, chairman for the last 16 years, Beverly Planning Board 3 years, Beverly Golf and Tennis Commission 1 year.  As the chairman of the Wenham Lake Advisory Committee, I wrote the original Watershed Protection District for Wenham Lake.

Why are you running for City Council?

I believe my experiences with the various boards give me the best understanding of the issues within the City. As chairman of the Conservation Commission for many years, my experience has given me the ability to discuss and evaluate problems and work for consensus solutions.

What is the most significant issue facing Ward 1? 

General repairs of infrastructure whether its roads, sidewalks or Obear Park erosion. Property taxes continue to increase with decreasing services overall.

Facing the city as a whole?

Roads and sidewalks, maintaining high expectations for our schools with little or no increases in dollars.

How would you address these issues?

I would fight hard for Ward I road dollars. I would evaluate the Road Service Rating, the priority system now in place for the  city-wide road repair list.  Many of Ward 1’s roads are in disrepair yet they do not receive a high rating. I will try to work with the DPW Commissioner to get our fair share of road dollars.

For the first time in 20 years, Mayor Bill Scanlon is not seeking election. Do you support one of the candidates?

At this time, I do not support any candidate.

If so, who? If not, how do you see yourself working with the new mayor as part of the City Council?

As chairman of the Conservation Commission, I work with the Con Com membership, the City Council, the Mayor, and other boards as well as the public on a regular basis. As President of GWC, I work with State and Federal regulators as well as large corporations.  Working as part of a team is one of my strengths. I expect to continue to work amicably with the existing team as well as with the new administration.

What is the greatest accomplishment of outgoing Ward 1 Councilor Maureen Troubetaris?

I have always admired Maureen, but only recently have I seen how devoted she really was to so many Ward 1 issues. She will truly be missed.

What is one thing Troubetaris did that you disagreed with or would have done differently?

 I hope to build upon Maureen’s commitment to recycling and trash management. I would like to examine the trash fee and explore options to provide incentives to increase curbside recycling while decreasing the City’s disposal costs.

Please add anything else that you want voters to know.

My business is in Beverly, so I am readily available to constituents.  I am an advocate for walking trails along the Bass River, and I will work with the Police Department for bike routes on some of our major roadways.