A NECSEMA Transparency Project
Public records obtained under G.L. c. 66, § 10
After Hopkinton adopted the policy, Health Director Shaun McAuliffe offered to “find some kids” for Ashland’s hearing. A Belchertown official offered Easthampton “articulate kids from outside Easthampton.” Belchertown Public Health Director Andrea Crete solicited a “model letter of support… that I could give to others,” then reviewed outside-drafted letters before they reached her Board as independent community support.
Dr. Jonathan Winickoff of Massachusetts General Hospital directed the network that its template board-of-health letter “should be customized by naming the city and town prior to submission to each BOH,” and that members should meet with officials “in advance of hearings, and prior to the tobacco industry poisoning the atmosphere.” Melrose’s coordinator, Maureen Buzby, scripted private residents to contact their own officials on the campaign’s behalf, conceding “[w]e cold call municipalities but it’s easier to have some kind of intro from a local resident.”
A task force volunteer circulating a campaign flyer wrote of the testimonial printed on it: “Take a look at this — we can change anything. I made the quote up but I’m sure its not too far from the truth and I can probably find someone to say it - lol.”
Each exhibit gives the quotation, the speaker and the date, sourced to the public records production in which it appears.
“Tobacco Control advocates will show up to support this important public health policy, but we often get criticized as ‘outsiders’… To buffer against that argument, it is helpful to have as many local community members as we can round up… Does Hopkinton have an 84 Chapter?”
Maureen Buzby to Ed Rand, Health Resources in Action / The 84, copying a DPH official, April 16, 2025.
“I can speak to Rajit and find some kids”; “Do we still have a joint program with Ashland where we could recruit from?” — and, asked what for: “Support NFG for Ashland.”
Shaun McAuliffe, Hopkinton Health Director, following Hopkinton’s own adoption.
“I thought that you were going to try to find students… I also may have some very articulate kids from outside Easthampton on the Zoom meeting.”
Ken Elstein, Belchertown Board of Health, to Ryan Griffin, June 2, 2026.
“Do you have a model letter of support with supporting facts about nicotine free generation that I could give to others?”
Andrea Crete, Belchertown Public Health Director, to Mark Gottlieb (PHAI) and Anthony Ishak (MGH). Two letters were then drafted by outside parties, sent to her for approval, and presented to the Board as independent community support.
“…the letter should be customized by naming the city and town prior to submission to each BOH. Where possible, we should continue to meet with city and town officials in advance of hearings, and prior to the tobacco industry poisoning the atmosphere.”
Dr. Jonathan Winickoff, MGH / Harvard Medical School, “Dear Team,” November 30, 2024. The underlying template survives in the production as a blank addressed “Dear XXX Board of Health.”
“If you know someone in town government (especially the Health Director or a member of the Board of Health) make an introduction… and cc me… By the way, no pressure! We cold call municipalities but it’s easier to have some kind of intro from a local resident.”
Maureen Buzby, form letter to residents, April 27, 2025.
“Take a look at this — we can change anything. I made the quote up but I’m sure its not too far from the truth and I can probably find someone to say it.”
Julie Smith-Galvin to Maureen Buzby, regarding the testimonial printed on an NFG campaign flyer, March 12, 2025.