Friday, September 9, 2005

Iacobucci at home in Amesbury
Newburyport Daily News. By Katie Farrell, Staff writer

AMESBURY — There's no denying that Thomas Iacobucci is well-known around town. The Birchmeadow Road resident grew up in Amesbury along with his seven siblings, including his twin, and has lived in town his entire life.

Iacobucci said he and his wife, Elizabeth, always knew they wanted to raise their family here. "Amesbury was always home," he said.

He has taken an active role in town government and public service, as well as examining Town Hall with a critical eye.

Iacobucci first joined the Amesbury political scene as an 18-year-old Town Meeting representative. He served on the town's Bylaw Committee and was elected a selectman and, after the town government change, a councilor-at-large.

But if you ask Iacobucci which board he's been most proud to have served on, he'll say the Charter Commission. Iacobucci served as a member and vice chairman in 1995-1996. The commission re-wrote the town's charter setting the rules and regulations for the town government, changing it to the present city form.

The document was designed to protect each citizen, Iacobucci said, with measures such as the referendum, free petition, the allotment of time for public comment at town meetings and a mandatory outside audit by the council.

"These are important enough rights to give to the public," Iacobucci said. "In politics, when the public steps up to the plate, you have to give people a chance to be heard. This is something I feel strongly about."

Strongly enough that he has taken the town to court. He is one of 14 citizens to sue the town earlier this year over the right to vote on the library expansion project. He is proud of the court victory that led to a referendum that defeated the library project.

"You never want to sue your town, but when the town chooses to ignore the rights of the citizens, the citizens can either roll over or step up and fight for them," Iacobucci said.

Public officials have a responsibility to represent the citizens who elected them, Iacobucci said, and they must remember they are public servants first and foremost. His lawsuits against the town were required when the town government gave itself one standard but expected the public to meet another, he said.

"If the town can't live by their own rules, what's the point of having them?" Iacobucci said.

With such a lengthy history in town, the Amesbury native has formed many friendships and working relationships with town groups like the Amesbury Taxpayers Association.

Although not a member of the association, his ties to the fiscal watchdog group have been questioned during his campaign. He said such questions arise from the "mindset ... that if you ask questions you're a troublemaker."

"I am not in the ATA. I have never filled out an application or donated money," he said. "I've read their materials and I think they serve a very valuable service."

The goal of the association is to gather information and ask questions in order to make decisions, Iacobucci said, something he supports.

As mayor, Iacobucci promises he would "do his homework" and keep the town informed. A main concern of residents is that their taxes are too high. Iacobucci promised controlling taxes will be a main priority as he goes through each line item in the budget to justify or lower each cost.

"No one wants to pay a lot of taxes, but people know we have to run a town and have services," Iacobucci said. "They don't want to see (their money) being misspent or abused."

Citizens have the right to know what their town government is doing, and Iacobucci promises that, as mayor, he'll make certain that information is readily available to town residents.

With technology making it feasible, material should be constantly updated on the town's Web site in order for people to know what is happening, he said. Iacobucci has created two Web sites as part of his effort to keep Amesbury citizens aware: AmesburyIssues.org and Amesbury.us.

"There should be a complete transparency in any government. As mayor, that's going to be my mindset," Iacobucci said. "Information shouldn't be so hard to get."

Thomas K. Iacobucci

Age: 39 Address: 10 Birchmeadow Road.

Occupation: Assistant vice president for business development at First Trade Union Bank in Boston.

Family: Married, with one daughter.

Education: Amesbury Public Schools, Northern Essex College, UMass, Northeastern University, B.S. in political science pending.

Number of years in town: 39.

Previous public service: Youth Advisory Council; Town Meeting representative; chairman of the Bylaw Committee; selectman; Charter Commission; councilor; Audit Committee; Traffic and Transportation Committee; Massachusetts Municipal Association Public Safety Committee; Massachusetts Municipal Association Public Works Committee; Board of Directors Massachusetts Municipal Association; Board of Directors, Massachusetts Municipal Councilors Association: president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer; Amesbury representative, Essex County Advisory Board; Board of Directors, Mass. Corporation for Education Telecommunications.

Top Priority: Taxes.

Do you support building a new library at a different site? We have to look at the opportunities and possibilities out there

There are 1,200 new homes being proposed or being built currently in Amesbury. Should the number of homes built each year be limited? Yes.

Do you believe the schools are adequately funded? No.

Do you think there is room for cuts in the police and fire budgets? Yes. All the departments have to be looked at.