LISTENING, LEARNING AND LEADING FOR MARLBOROUGH

For almost 25 years, Katie Robey and her family have been part of the fabric of the Marlborough community.

Starting as a parent leader for better schools, balanced budgets, and careful planning, she was elected to the school committee in 1995, the first of her four terms. At the same time, she began to focus on a range of important local issues that form the basis of a multi-generational link for children, parents, grandparents, and their friends and neighbors. Today, Katie is recognized as one of the region’s most knowledgeable public officials in the fields of municipal finance and budget, personnel policy, labor relations, school building, and the development of sound, rational municipal public policy in challenging economic times. She is also well known in Marlborough as one of the most visible and accessible people in local government.

An active and committed citizen, focusing on community services and careful planning, Katie has put her trademark skills – “doing her homework”, information gathering, reaching out to stakeholders and citizens, and listening to everyone – to use building a plan for the future of Marlborough. She understands that progress comes from hard work and commitment. As an advocate for Marlborough and its families, she rose through the ranks of the Marlborough Jr. Woman’s club, a community service organization, to serve as president for two years, and emerged as a leader for children and public education when she became President of the MA Association of School Committees in 2010.

Appointed to the state’s Local Government Advisory Committee in 2007, Katie meets with Governor Patrick and Lt. Governor Murray, local city councilors, city and town managers, and state and regional planners to help build strong Massachusetts communities. This experience led to her appointment to the state task force on personnel evaluation, serving along side business leaders, union officials, academic specialists, and elected leaders.

Katie has taken the time to master complicated issues, be available and accessible to all, and get out into the community to be of service. People who have called upon her know that she’s there at any time to listen and try to help you cope better with the challenges you have, resolve your problems, and to make Marlborough a strong and vibrant community.

Katie and her husband Eric have two children, Jason and Rebecca, both graduates of Marlborough High School.