Tom Sullivan Launches Campaign
October 17, 2011…Haverhill native and local attorney Tom Sullivan has begun his campaign for a seat on the Haverhill City Council. At a fundraiser held by the Committee to Elect Tom Sullivan on October 3rd at Olivia’s Restaurant, Sullivan spoke to friends and supporters about his vision of Haverhill and some of the issues and priorities important to him.
Sullivan, a local attorney specializing in residential real estate transactions, opened a new office in The Landmark Building on Merrimack Street this past January, because he said he believes in the downtown and wants to work to revitalize it. “Merrimack Street is the next major economic growth area for downtown Haverhill. So much progress has been made on the other end of downtown. As we recover from the economic downturn, developers and investors will turn their attention to the Merrimack Street end of downtown. I want to be there to work with them and to help promote what Merrimack Street can become. I am excited by the prospect of a river walk along Merrimack Street, and I intend to advocate for the reconstruction and expansion of the Merrimack Street parking garage with new business storefronts built in front of the garage.”
Sullivan spoke about the importance of maintaining and improving parks and recreational facilities throughout the city. Sullivan is currently Vice President of the Winnekenni Foundation, which is responsible for operating, maintaining and promoting Winnekenni Castle. Sullivan said if elected he would work to improve the trails around Winnekenni Park and Plug Pond, as well as identify funds to renovate the bathrooms and snack bar at Plug Pond and at the tennis court shack at Winnekenni Park. Sullivan is currently working with city officials to create a new parking area at the entrance to the park. “More defined parking areas and better signage is definitely needed,” said Sullivan . Sullivan supports creating a Dog Park in the city, and chaired the Mayor’s Dog Park Committee and recommended either Plug Pond or the American Legion as two possible sites. “The committee’s recommendations to the Mayor never went any further, and I want to follow through on this idea. Right now dog owners use Winnekenni Park and Riverside Stadium to take their pets for exercise, and that’s fine, but it would be great to create a safe area where dog owners can let their pets off their leashes.”
Sullivan also spoke about the need to maintain Riverside Stadium park and inner city parks like Swazey Field. “The better our parks and recreational facilities, the more we will differentiate ourselves from other cities and towns and attract new residents who value the quality of life Haverhill has to offer.
Sullivan is a member of the city’s Forest Management Committee, and if elected he intends to work with Haverhill’s state legislators to appropriate $500,000.00 for a forest management program, The funding was included in an Environmental Bond bill signed into law in 2007. “This program can be very successful. It is already off to a great start, with work beginning at the American Legion Farm, and work scheduled for the Millvale Reservoir area and eventually Winnekenni Park.
Sullivan serves as a member of the Haverhill License Commission, which is responsible for regulating and permitting local bars, restaurants and variety stores. “The License Commission has done a good job addressing the needs of the restaurant and store owners and balancing those needs with the health and safety of the public and particularly the residents downtown. “ When problems arise we take the appropriate action to resolve them”
Sullivan is a member and past Chairman of the VFW Santa Parade, which was started in 1964 by his father, the late John T. Sullivan, and a group of veterans from Lorraine Post 29. Sullivan also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Career Resources Corporation, whose mission is to better serve the developmentally disabled community, and is also on the Board of Directors of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce.