 Hello, my name is Mary Wynne Stanley O'Connor. It is my distinct honor and pleasure to seek another term as a member of the Arlington Board of Assessors to represent you, my fellow residents. I am a proud graduate of Arlington High School and have been an attorney for 40 years. In addition to my law degree, I have a master's degree in tax law from Boston University Law School. My education, professional expertise, and training enable me to contribute value to the Board of Assessors. We are fortunate to have an elected board which is well-balanced and highly skilled. The elected board includes myself as an attorney, Gordon Jamison, who is a community activist and business person, and William Zagata, an experienced and licensed appraiser. The Board of Assessors is required by Massachusetts law to assess all personal property and real estate at full and fair cash value. There are approximately 14,500 properties in the town the Board must assess. In the context of doing so, the Board must be transparent and accessible to residents so that they can understand the basis for their property valuation and be informed of relief they may be entitled to, such as tax abatements, exemptions, for seniors, the blind, veterans, among others. Other relief, such as the deferral of property taxes for seniors struggling to pay their real estate taxes, is also available. The Board of Assessors effectively serves both the town of Arlington in the form of assessing all property and the taxpayers who may apply for abatements or exemptions and who need to be satisfied that their properties are being fairly assessed. If you have any questions, please contact the Board of Assessors, or please feel free to contact me directly at my office, 617-523-1010, via email at moconner at koilaw.com. Again, thank you for permitting me to continue to serve the town that educated me and provides a wonderful community in which to live and raise my family.