Among the five districts that will elect two Town Councilors, I believe the most significant pairing occurs in District 3, namely George Ryan and John Page. This unique significance occurs because District 3 merges Precinct 4 and 10, which includes the west side of downtown Amherst and the largest concentration of students living both on campus and in private housing.
For all our councilors, we should consider and strive to balance those who bring deep experience in town and those who bring a newer perspective. George Ryan has lived in Amherst for 31 years, 28 years in District 3. He was a member of Town Meeting for the past 12 years and for many years before that was involved in the cause of affordable housing, serving on the Board of Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity. All the while, raising his two daughters who were educated in the Amherst Schools. George also understands the important role that higher education plays here — he and his wife have taught at Holyoke Community College and UMass for 50 years combined. George has a deep experience and history of engagement in our town.
John Page graduated from Amherst Regional in 2015, where he served as the President of the Class and sat on the Advisory Board to the School Committee. There he was introduced to the intricacies of local politics in Amherst. He has also worked at UMass in a variety of capacities, since the age of 15, mostly for UMass Dining. Page is currently a senior in the Commonwealth Honors College studying business and political science. During his career there, he has served as a senator for the Student Government and as their liaison to the town. He is an exceptionally capable young man who would represent his fellow students as well as the residents of District 3 diligently. John Page is uniquely positioned to serve as a bridge between the campus and greater Amherst community.
These two would have to work together to represent their constituency well — and along the way, they might demonstrate how the town and our campuses can live more congenially.
If I were living in District 3, I would give both George Ryan and John Page my vote.
John W. Olver, Former Congressman, State Senator, and State Representative
Amherst