Susan
Harrington

For Select Board

Accountable to all of Canton
for our best future

Vote on April 8

  • Business leader

    A former owner of a large veterinary practice. After graduating from veterinary school, Dr. Susan Harrington ran Randolph Animal Hospital for 30 years.  As a practice owner, she managed financials, growth, medical excellence, communications, and a team of 20 professionals. She more than doubled the hospital’s size, reach, and footprint and oversaw a large building addition.

  • Advocate

    Susan is committed to advocating for transparency on our Select Board, accountability for town employees and officials, preservation of open space, historic sites, and affordable housing. Sue seeks to encourage increased civic participation. She is a supporter of Canton’s Climate Action Committee and hopes to see town buildings incorporate best practices for energy use, ensuring that Canton is a great place to live for years to come.

    With her demonstrated ability to foster a welcoming culture of inclusion and respect, Susan understands that our success as a Town and the Select Board as the Executive Branch of government, depends on adapting and changing behaviors, practices,  policies to increase  representation of our diversity and to advance equity. She will continue to be an advocate of diversity, equity, and inclusion on the Select Board

  • Community leader

    Sue currently serves on the Canton By-Law Modernization Committee and has volunteered on numerous local campaigns. Many families in Canton know Sue most for her artistic collaboration and 20 year dedication to designing and sewing costumes for Hansen Elementary plays, and Canton High School theatrical productions. Sue was on the board of MusicCounts! and served as the organization’s president for 10 years. She was also a founding member of Cantonstock—now a Canton institution—and the primary fundraiser for MusicCounts!, which supports music education in the Canton Public schools. 

Why Susan Harrington for Select Board?

My husband and I built a home in Canton almost 30 years ago as we chose this community to raise our family and build our roots. Then and today, we are inspired by Canton’s community, excellent schools, and rich history. Canton is a strong and vibrant community where I have witnessed amazing people give their time and talents serving on committees, on the sports fields, in support of arts, and showing up for neighbors.

I am committed to building on what we have grown here and I am focused on making Canton a great place to live for years to come.

But building a strong Canton of the future means making some changes now. That starts with ensuring we have a proactive and transparent executive branch of our town government, our Select Board. I will bring my experience as a business owner and a community leader to my seat on the Select Board. I will work to represent all Canton residents and most importantly I am eager to hear what you think about Canton’s future.  What matters most to you?

Canton Voter Guide Candidate Forum

Watch here.

Get Involved

Please make checks payable to:
Committee to Elect Susan Harrington

And send to:

Committee to Elect Susan Harrington
c/o Emily Prigot, Treasurer
44 High Street, Canton, MA 02021

Voting Information

April 8 Election Day

Mail-in Ballots

If you want to vote by mail, you must request a mail-in ballot.

Check your registration

Make sure you are registered to vote!

Early voting

Saturday, March 29: 9am-5pm

Monday, March 31: 8am-5pm

Tuesday, April 1: 8am-7pm

Wednesday, April 2: 8am-5pm

Thursday, April 3: 8am-5pm

Friday, April 4: 8am-1pm

Dr. Susan Harrington is a 28-year Canton resident, the former owner of a large veterinary practice, long-time supporter of local performing arts, wife, and mother of three amazing young adults who attended Canton Public Schools. Susan (Sue) believes in the importance of public service, leadership in local government, and contributing to efforts that advance our quality of life for all residents of Canton. She currently serves on the Canton By-Law Modernization Committee and has volunteered on numerous local campaigns. 

Sue grew up in Lynnfield, MA and attended Tufts University, where she graduated with a BS in Biology. She graduated from University of Tulsa with a Master’s degree in Cell Biology in 1989 and from Oklahoma State University with a D.V.M. in 1991. After graduating from veterinary school, she married her husband, Rob Fichman, and moved to Canton. 

In 1994, while pregnant with their first child, Sue purchased an animal hospital in Randolph and launched Randolph Animal Hospital, growing it from a one doctor to three doctor practice and building an addition that more than doubled the size of the hospital. As a practice owner, she managed financials, growth, medical excellence, communications, and a team of 20 professionals. In 2022, she sold Randolph Animal Hospital, but has continued to practice there as Medical Director. 

Many families in Canton know Sue most for her artistic collaboration and dedication to designing and sewing costumes for Hansen Elementary plays, and  Canton High School theatrical productions. It’s a passion she’s continued for 20 years, including now, long after her children had graduated. Sue was on the board of MusicCounts! and served as the organization’s president for 10 years. She was also a founding member of Cantonstock—now a Canton institution—and the primary fundraiser for MusicCounts!, which supports music education in the Canton Public schools. 

A proactive planner, lifelong active Democrat, and vocal advocate for residents of all walks of life, Sue is seeking to represent Canton on our town’s five-member Select Board—the top governing body, which hires and oversees department leaders, among other responsibilities. 

She will be accessible and bring business savvy, integrity, accountability, and foresight to the role as she represents and leads our growing community in its next important chapter.

About Susan

FAQ

  • You can register online with the Secretary of State’s office: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/

  • The Select Board is responsible for: 

    • Hiring all non-school municipal employees, including public safety, public works and other general government functions such as finance, human resources, building inspections, maintenance, elder services, legal services, animal control, conservation, and veterans service.

    • Making appointments to many Town committees 

    • Granting permits and licenses such as liquor licenses, road closures, business openings, special events and entertainment. 

    • Providing recommendations to Town Meeting on decisions delegated to Town Meeting, including the Town’s annual operating budget line items totaling approximately $145 million and an annual capital budget of about $8 million.  

    • Setting the Town’s tax rates, water and sewer rates and various Town employee insurance rates.

    • Approving employment contracts with many of the Town’s unionized employees, including police and fire.  

    • Managing litigation to which the Town is party.

     The Select Board also makes decisions which impact the future of the Town such as the Town’s goals and strategies to protect and strengthen the community’s financial health and well-being, including housing, economic development, environmental stewardship, fiduciary management and good governance.  

    Copied from Canton MA Voter Guide

  • Volunteer, donate, and spread the word with your friends and neighbors! Most of all, thank you for your support!