Planning Board candidate profile: John Sousa

Mar 29, 2018

John Sousa discovered his passion for town politics in high school, and has been politically involved for more than three decades since then. The lifelong Dartmouth resident is running for re-election to the Planning Board.

While still in high school, Sousa worked a seasonal maintenance job for Parks and Recreation. Learning how the department operates is what got him started, and he became a Town Meeting member in his early 20s.

With one child and another on the way, Sousa looked to the Planning Board as a way to get involved with shaping Dartmouth’s future.

“I just had an interest in doing more, and had an interest in how this town would grow and where it would go,” Sousa said. “It was a good place for me to be raised, it was a good place for me to start my home, and I wanted my children to have that same ability.”

Throughout his 25-year tenure, he’s led or assisted in many projects. He highlighted upping residential zoning minimum lot size to two acres, an assisted living bylaw which brought needed senior housing to town, the flexible Open Space Residential Development bylaw, and accessory apartments as his top accomplishments.

Although he does not currently have any major goals, he does hope to continue his work and volunteer to help shape the town’s future.

“I just want to continue the trend and do what I can to make Dartmouth the best place to live, and try to work with residents, landowners, and developers to make this the best place we can,” Sousa said.

Sousa lives with his wife Conee and his two children, Jay and Lindsey, who are out of college. He enjoys taking drives through Dartmouth’s rural back roads.