5-17-23
(Press Release from Scott Wood)
Haverhill, MA — Scott Wood, Jr. currently the longest serving member of Haverhill’s School Committee and the youngest elected
official in the city’s history, has announced his candidacy for Mayor of Haverhill.
“I am excited to announce my candidacy for Mayor of the City of Haverhill,” Wood said.
“As the only candidate with experience in education, law enforcement, finance, and as a small business owner, I am uniquely qualified to address the challenges facing our City while moving the community forward. My priorities of public safety, economic development, the cost of housing, taxes, and education reflect the issues that matter most to Haverhill residents.”
Wood was born and raised in Haverhill, the son of a police officer and ESP in the Haverhill Public Schools.
He attended Fox School, Golden Hill School, Whittier Middle School, and Haverhill High School, where he graduated in 2001. Just two years after he graduated from high school, Scott was elected to the Haverhill School Committee in 2003, becoming the youngest elected official in the City’s history. After high school, and while serving on the School Committee, Scott attended Fisher College, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Management and an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice.
Over the course of his nearly 20 years on the School Committee, Scott has worked diligently on behalf of Haverhill’s schools, its students, educators, and faculty. He led the fight for smaller class sizes and modern technology in the classroom, supported robust projects such as the comprehensive high school renovation, and successfully negotiated contracts that balanced fiscal restraint with the need for competitive pay to attract and retain quality teachers. Scott was the force behind the creation of the Haverhill School Committee Subcommittee, aiming to ensure that Haverhill’s educators were reflective of the student body.
Scott is a seasoned finance professional, having spent nearly two decades in the finance industry. He understands the importance of fiscal responsibility and smart financial management. Scott has also been at the forefront of the 21st century issues that Haverhill faces. He has pushed for new and innovative programs in our schools and within our community to address substance use disorder, violence within our schools and neighborhoods, and truancy to name a few.
In addition to his work on the School Committee, Scott has always been actively involved in his community and in supporting important causes and organizations. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Haverhill Boys and Girls Club and Greater Haverhill Newburyport ARC, coached basketball at the local YMCA, and worked as a Care Ambassador for the Parkinson’s Foundation.
Education: Scott believes education is the key to a bright future, as Mayor he will do everything he can to make sure all our young people have the opportunity to attend high-quality schools and receive the world class education they deserve. He will fight for needed investments in our public schools, push to improve school building infrastructure, ensure our teachers have the support and resources they need, and always guarantee parents a seat at the table when it comes to their children’s education.
Housing: Scott knows that access to quality and affordable housing is one of the most important issues facing our City today. By improving housing conditions and affordability, we can build stronger families and communities while laying the foundation for a more prosperous future. Scott will work to increase access to affordable housing, create better and more affordable pathways to homeownership, and explore ways to lower property taxes for our residents to help keep families and aging residents in their homes.
Public Safety: As Mayor, there is nothing that Scott would take more seriously than keeping you and your family safe. If elected, he will work with law enforcement, community organizations, and residents to combat violence and ensure every resident is able to live in a safe and healthy community. Scott will ensure that Haverhill’s first responders have the support and resources they need to keep our residents safe, implement new and innovative programs aimed at getting to the root cause of violence and helping to reduce crime, all while enhancing community policing efforts citywide.
Community Investment and Basic City Services: As Mayor, Scott will not only focus on the big picture issues, but also on the day-to-day services that keep our City running. From ensuring we have clean parks to snow removal, safe sidewalks to recycling programs, and more. Scott will work to secure new investments for our communities across the board, specifically focusing on small business and community-based infrastructure projects that will foster growth and help our community and local business grow and thrive.