METHUEN — Acting Mayor and former City Councilor D.J. Beauregard says if he is elected on Dec. 10 he will advance and build off the legacy of former Mayor Neil Perry.
Beauregard, 35, a City Councilor since 2020, has largely run on continuing the policies of Perry, who passed unexpectedly this fall during the first year of his final, two-year term.
Perry’s death led Beauregard into his current role. The pair entered city politics at the same time and Beauregard considered Perry a friend and mentor. He has pointed to the many scandals and financial debacles that plagued the city before his time on the council and Perry’s administration. Many reforms have been instituted in recent years, including an overhaul of the police department.
“I think it is so important that we continue that work moving Methuen forward and further away from those days that consumed our city,” said Beauregard. “Whenever there is an election there is always a risk, potentially, of going backwards.”
Beauregard, who is running against local entrepreneur Jim Sarcione, said some of the top issues he hopes to address are the upcoming audit of the school district, the recent purchase of the Searles Estate for $3.25 million and outdated public safety infrastructure. He was a strong supporter of the purchase of the estate and has recently put together a committee to oversee the property.
The lifelong Methuen resident and product of the public school system said he has dreamed of being mayor since he was seven years old, owing to the office’s ability to make a huge impact on the community.
“I love my city,” said Beauregard.
As acting mayor, Beauregard is helping to negotiate with teachers over their contract. After months of negotiations teachers and school officials have yet to come to an agreement. He stands by the city’s current budget allocation to the school department and pointed to an upcoming audit of the district as a useful measure to improve the district.
“We are funding our schools, I sincerely believe that, I think the key at this point is to ascertain whether those funds are being allocated or deployed in the most efficient way possible,” he said.
Beauregard also expressed concern about the shape of both the police department’s headquarters at 90 Hampshire St. and the Central Fire Station, 24 Lowell St.
“That building is in a severe state of disrepair,” he said of the police station, which he added has rodent and heating problems.
He said these facilities are also costing Methuen in maintenance and upkeep, and that the city was exploring the possibility of establishing a new public safety facility to house both the police and fire departments.
As for housing, Beauregard said it was ultimately in the best interests of the city to comply with the 2021 MBTA Communities Act. A state law which asks communities to create new zoning districts to promote the construction of multifamily housing or lose some state grants. He said there was a housing crisis and the zoning would help, though he added he understands and agrees with concerns that the state was overstepping its authority with the law. He added he stands by the work of city planners to craft a district that would minimize the cost to taxpayers.
Despite his relatively young age Beauregard has been involved in city politics to a degree for almost two decades. At 16 years old he successfully managed Kathleen Corey Rahme’s 2005 campaign for City Council. Beauregard also interned in the mayor’s office during a similar time period.
He holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Liberty University.
Beauregard began his career in a communications role at the Armstrong Advisory Group, an independent investment advisory firm based in Needham. He has also worked as the director of strategic initiatives at Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School and as the economic development coordinator for the town of Arlington.
Aside from the headline grabbing corruption in the police department and the financial disaster in the schools, Beauregard pointed to a number of small but vital challenges the council and mayor’s office have addressed over the last four years. He said until recently, spending any money at the transfer station required a checkbook and the city was still running on an antiquated version of Windows as late as 2020, which has since been updated.
At council meetings over the last few months Beauregard has often voted for the prevailing side. However, he was the lone “no” vote for an expansion at the Greater Lawrence Technical School, though only during a second vote. Beauregard, who considers himself a fiscal conservative, said the financial impact was “significant” and tied the city with a 10-year agreement for more than $100,000 annually, to purchase a building that is not in the city.
He said in an interview Thursday that while he applauds the work of the technical school he believed the purchase was not in the best interests of the Methuen community.
When Beauregard is not working he greatly enjoys reading and music. In particular, he enjoys James Taylor as well as other classical music and he loves reading nonfiction biographies. He said his recent favorite book is “The Wager” by David Grann.
He and his wife Hillary are the parents of a 6-year-old daughter who will be starting first grade at the Comprehensive Grammar School next year.