Time for new generation to lead, says Framingham's youngest mayoral candidate - News - MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA
FRAMINGHAM — Working in the church and traveling around the country as a youth mentor, Joshua Horrigan said it became clear to him that a new generation of leaders is needed in government.
The country’s political system pits people against one another, Horrigan said, hurting those who are most in need of help.
"One thing that I've seen over these last years as I've gotten older is that there is a problem with the system,” Horrigan said, “not necessarily with the people.”
Horrigan, 25, said the time has come for members of his generation to take responsibility for their future. And he hopes to begin that work in his hometown.
Horrigan, the youngest of seven candidates vying to be Framingham’s mayor, discussed his decision to run for office and his vision for the community during an interview last week with staff from the Daily News.
While he lacks political and managerial experience, Horrigan said his time in the church gives him insight into both realms. He also learned to operate effectively with limited resources — a valuable skill in local government.
Fundamentally, leadership is about identifying problems and solutions, Horrigan said, and church leaders exercise those skills every day by working to get kids off the streets, keep marriages together and help those addled by substance abuse.
"We're dealing with major human issues that, in my opinion, are far more difficult than budget and planning issues,” Horrigan said, “because we do that on the side at the church. We do that in an hour meeting, and then we have to spend another 23 hours of the day taking care of the human side of it."
A resident of Cavanaugh Road, Horrigan lives in the home built by his great-grandfather. He spent more than 10 years working for his family’s business, Horrigan Carpentry, and studied at Mount Ida University and Framingham State University, according to biographical information provided to the paper.
For the past six years, Horrigan devoted much of his time to the church. He received a degree in theology from the River Bible Institute, and has held pastoral, teaching and mentoring positions in a range of locations, including Alabama, Florida, Haiti and Central America.
Horrigan also visited churches in Canada and Mexico, and launched a program serving underprivileged youth in Maine, he said.
“I tend to go where nowhere else will go,” he said, “especially in the ministry.”
After settling back in Framingham about one year ago, Horrigan became active with Connect Community Church in Ashland. As a pastor, Horrigan says he promotes making the world a better place and teaching others how to advance that goal.
If elected, Horrigan said his goals will include making Framingham a “green” city, powered by renewable energy, and implementing a unified vision to improve downtown and help residents on the Southside.
As an example, Horrigan said Framingham missed an opportunity to redevelop the old Harley-Davidson dealership on Waverly Street. Instead of taking control of the property and building a community resource, such as an activity center, the town stood by while it was sold to a developer. The land is now on track to house 266 new luxury apartments — a project that will be facilitated through tax breaks worth millions of dollars.
Horrigan also wants to rekindle Framingham's legacy as a community at the vanguard of defending human rights, a role Horrigan says it embraced in the 19th century, when activists burned a copy of the Constitution and the Fugitive Slave Act. Horrigan said the town should celebrate its diversity and champion its immigrant population.
While he’s the youngest candidate in the race, Horrigan says he’s running neck-and-neck with his competitors and inspiring more people to get involved in local politics.
“I’m only going to learn more,” he said. “I’m only going to understand better. I’m only going to get more mature. … I can outwork, I can outmaneuver, and I know what it takes to lead people and put people first.”
Jim Haddadin can be reached at 617-863-7144 or jhaddadin@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter: @JimHaddadin
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