Betsy Levinson, Patch Staff

<b>Email: betsy&#64;patch.com<br>Phone: 978 726-7049<br>Hometown: I grew up in Buffalo, N.Y., went to college and graduate school in Boston, and live in Concord, Mass.<br>Birthday: </b>October<br><b>Bio: </b>14 years as a professional journalist. I am married and have three grown children. I love to be outdoors, and I love reading novels.

<b>Your Beliefs</b>

I am a firm believer in democracy and the power of the ballot. My feeling is that more of us should be registered to vote, and that those of us that are, should vote in every election. Use the media to become informed and if you are not properly informed, let the media know it. That is our job after all. It isn&#39;t to push one agenda, but to offer all sides of an issue. I am not about editorializing my stances, but giving the readers of this site as much information as I can.

I am also an arts lover, and Concord does not disappoint in any regard. I hope Concord Patch will reflect the rich arts community. Again, if there are events or announcements you don&#39;t see, post them.

While I do not shy away from discord, and have handled my share of criticism, I believe in freedom of expression, as long as it is balanced in our reporting and news gathering and is never personal.

<br><b>Politics </b>

I am probably more liberal than conservative in political beliefs, but I do think deeply about issues and I do not adhere to any one agenda. For me the lines between Democrats and Republicans can blur sometimes, especially in Massachusetts. Happily, Concord&#39;s elected officials are not aligned with parties. I think it serves the town better. Qualified? Yes. Dogmatic? No.<br><br><b>Religion</b>

While I love church music, singing hymns, listening to sermons, admiring church artwork and architecture, I do not adhere to a strict religious doctrine.<br><b><br>Local Hot-Button Issues</b>

As in other communities, taxes and land use are hot-button issues here. My view is that taxes are collected and spent for the good of the community and the state. Concord has unusually good services and I think we get good value for our taxes. I&#39;ve worked in other communities where that may not always be the case.

<b>Where do you stand on each of these issues?</b>

The articles that come up at Town Meeting are the best barometer of what matters to Concord residents. I look forward to covering robust Town Meetings where different points of view are shared openly and decided by majority rule and/or secret ballot.

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