Several seats up for grabs

Thursday, February 9, 2012

One of the more interesting aspects of late-January early-February in the Souhegan Valley is the annual pondering of who will run, who won’t run, for which local offices will several people run thus precipitating a race, and for which local offices will no one run.

This year, when the filing period closed last Friday, proved to be no different.

In Amherst, there are races for the Board of Selectmen, the Souhegan Cooperative School Board, the library board of trustees and the cemetery board of trustees.

In Milford, there is a race for selectman.

In Wilton, there is a four-person race for one selectman’s seat.

But in Lyndeborough?

Well, none of the incumbents for any office has a challenger and, in the case of the Board of Selectmen, not even the incumbent has chosen to run so some sort of write-in campaign is inevitable.

Mont Vernon? No challenges to any of the incumbents, no challenges at all.

People run for different reasons but in the main, they seek local offices because they think they can help and if they are incumbents, they generally run again because they believe they’re doing a good job and/or they have unfinished business.

For instance: “There is still work to be done,” said incumbent Milford Selectman Gary Daniels in a telephone interview on Sunday. “I still think I have something to offer and I think my experience will be a good continuum for the board. We have a lot of things going on, particularly with the Brox property and we should be able to succeed in bringing business to town. I think the focus should be on jobs and the economy.”

Daniels is one of 3 candidates for two open seats along with Mark Fougere, the former town planner, and Kevin Federico. The latter two could not be reached for comment.

In Amherst, long-time Selectman Marilyn Peterman, who retired from that board a few years ago, has thrown her hat into the Souhegan School Board ring, seeking the single three-year seat and running against Jane Pollio and Peter Marasco, the latter of whom has been serving on the Amherst School Board.

Peterman, in an email, told The Cabinet that she is running “to provide town-wide community outreach and many years of budgeting experience both as a four-year member of the Souhegan Finance Advisory Committee and six terms on the Board of Selectman.”

“I believe I could provide a fresh and creative perspective to the board,” Pollio said. “I have children attending the school which I believe gives me first hand insight to the successes, challenges and issues that are going on.”

Maresco had a similar comment, referencing his children who are now at Souhegan High School, “so I’m more aware of what’s going on ... I thought I could be of more use there” rather than remaining on the Amherst board.

“I really enjoy working with the new superintendent,” he said of his three years on the Amherst board, a tenure he said he had also enjoyed.

For the Board of Selectmen, there are two incumbents – Bruce Bowler and Brad Galinson – and one newcomer with some name recognition – former television sportscaster Charles S. Sherman.

Galinson, in an email response to a question, said, in part, “I like to think that my previous experience as a selectman allows me the insight, wisdom and relationships to get things done. The town currently faces many complex issues including managing its buildings and roads while keeping taxes from skyrocketing and managing smart economic development for industrial and residential growth while maintaining Amherst’s “rural” feel. It is important for its board members to have experience serving the Town in order to understand the issues and take actions based on that knowledge.”

Wilton race

Wilton voters have four choices for the single seat on the Board of Selectmen: incumbent Bill Condra, long-time sewer and water commissioner Jim Tuttle, Kellie-Sue Boissonault, who also ran last year, and Bob Duquette.

Condra said that he has been watching the activities of the School Board, particularly because of the board’s proposed warrant article that, Condra said, “takes away the authority of the School Budget Committee.”

“I’m really concerned bout that,” he said. “Changing that will put the School Board in a position to propose the budget and approve the budget. I’m concerned we would lose oversight. I’m speaking on behalf of property owners and taxpayers.”

Boissonault wants to bring “a new perspective, a new point of view” to the selectmen’s board.

“I think that you start getting some stale idea or maybe the selectmen in there start feeling that they don’t want to step on toes, they just get comfortable,” she said in a telephone interview. “I think it’s time to put in a new point of view.”

But Tuttle thinks his 30 years on the Water Commission and six years on the Sewer Commission are important, although he, too, thinks he would bring a new perspective to the board.

Still, being a life-long resident of the town who spent 24 years with the Fire Department, is important, he believes.

“I’m a little concerned about the direction the town’s been going in the last few years and with some of the decisions that have been made,” he said.

Duquette thinks he has a couple of things to offer Wilton. “I feel I can be an asset to the board in some of the upcoming projects around town. I have been involved in the construction business in various areas over the last 45 years. I also bring business experience, as I do own and operate my own business at the present. I feel my negotiating skills will be an asset to the board,” he said.

The Cabinet attempted to contact all the candidates in contested school board and selectmen’s races but either was not able to reach, could not get telephone numbers for, or did not hear back from those not quoted.

However, candidates in contested races will have the opportunity to write letters to the editor, and to respond to questionnaires that will be emailed to them. We encourage them all to do so.

Michael Cleveland can be reached at 673-3100, ext. 301 or mcleveland@cabinet.com.