Kristi A. Talagan seeks Housing Authority seat and re-election to Town Meeting

I’m running for the Saugus Housing Authority because I believe every resident deserves safe, consistently well-maintained housing and the corresponding maintenance. Where tenants are given a voice in how decisions are made. With a master’s in education and years of leadership experience, I’ve dedicated my career to helping people and building systems that work.

My tenure as a high school administrator at CHS, combined with my role as a former Special Education Lead, has instilled in me a strong commitment to fairness, legal accountability, and community support. I have extensive experience working with the disabled and low-income families.

I bring professionalism, compassion, and a strong commitment to transparency and fairness. I can ensure that Saugus housing residents will be treated with respect, resources will be managed wisely, and the Authority will remain transparent and accountable to the community.

Personal, Professional Public Service background:

• Town Meeting Member Precinct 8
• Saugus resident (since 1962)-Saugus High School, Class of ’77
• Master’s in Education, 25 years Administration, Special Education teacher/Coordinator CHS.
• Adjunct Professor, BHCC present
• Business Owner – Kristi Talagan, Education and Consulting Inc., Providing compliance training for MA, MD, RI, and NJ.

Why I’m Running:

Housing Authority boards are made up of five members under Massachusetts law (MGL c.121B §5): four appointed by the town, and one tenant elected by housing residents. This ensures residents have a voice while also maintaining community-wide oversight.

Currently, two of the five members are residents of the Saugus Housing Authority (SHA), with another tenant candidate for this election. While tenant input is essential, having a majority of members as residents raises concerns, especially for extended terms. Additionally, the law clearly states one tenant is to serve on the board.

Why this matters:

Members may hesitate to enforce income or lease rules for themselves or their neighbors, creating potential conflicts of interest. I understand these challenges and am prepared to address them head-on, ensuring that the rules are applied fairly and consistently.

Transparency risks: Potential for favoritism, overlooked violations, or biased budget requests.

Governance balance: The law’s intent is a mix of community representatives and one resident member, creating a system of checks and balances.

On a personal note, my family is a source of great pride and inspiration to me. I am married to Paul D. Talagan, a School Psychologist, and we have a daughter, Barbara Talagan, who holds an MBA from Cornell and is a Senior Business Analyst at MBTA. Like many of you, we work multiple jobs and think about retirement after retirement.