O’Keefe Announces Campaign for School Committee

The Committee to Re-Elect William J. O’Keefe Jr. announces his Candidacy for Medford School Committee. O’Keefe is the father of four young boys and happily married to his best friend and wife Lauren (Pepoli). O’Keefe is a life-long Medford resident and has been active locally as a lawyer, parent, and community volunteer.

Attorney O’Keefe has been “a Man of Action” during his elected term. O’Keefe has consistently been an independent and objective voice who has led the charge for Taxpayer money and School expenses being Transparent. O’Keefe through his leadership and public resolutions ensured that all school finances would be accessible for review to all Medford residents. By implementing policy, these detailed documents are stored online for review and publication on the Medford Public School website. O’Keefe was also instrumental in coordinating that all Medford School Committee members have email accounts to correspond with parents, students, and the Medford Community. “I pledged that communications would be my benchmark. The residents of Medford want to know and I provided them a venue that we all become educated and knowledgeable about school subject matter and issues.” O’Keefe proved this by submitting more taxpayer resolutions than any elected official this past election cycle.  

With this momentum, O’Keefe lobbied to ensure that the Official Medford School Committee Meeting minutes were online and School Committee meetings more televised on local access channels. O’Keefe pledged during his last campaign that more meeting would occur within the community schools and he is proud that this was accomplished. School Meetings are now being held at our community schools and being replayed on our Cable Access Channel which is a significant upgrade in communications and use of technology for all Medford residents. The response was so positive that O’Keefe was approached by Medford residents to have the Medford City Council meetings replayed on the School Access Channel. “Building partnerships with the City Council has always been a priority and only helps the public be more informed on Medford topics.”

O’Keefe’s commitment to reform did not end there as he pushed for and demanded that the Medford School Committee Sub Committees be re-stored for more public participation.  “My only regret this term is that my colleagues voted down not having a School Finance Sub Committee.” A recent poll by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees showed that 86% of School Committee’s has this Sub Committee. “Again, it is the people’s money and we have a fiduciary duty to review, not glance at it.”  

Yet, with the 2011-2012 School finances being a real budget concern, O’Keefe challenged the Mayor and the Central School Administration to not only level fund the School Budget but to increase it. With civic involvement and sound decision making, an increase of 1.7 million or a 3.9% increase for this Fiscal School year was successfully accomplished. An increase for the first time in years.  “I knew that working on the Medford School Committee was going to be hard work, but I didn’t realize it was also going to be so much fun too. Accountability, Communications, and Transparency in this fiscal climate are critical and I pledge to continue with this platform.” The Committee to Re-Elect William J. O’Keefe Jr. asks that you remember Your One Vote Counts. ”I want to thank the voters of Medford for their continued support and ask for their vote November 8th for Medford School Committee.”

– Submitted by Bill O’Keefe