Stockbridge Updates will publish “Stockbridge Candidates Q&A”
Stockbridge Updates invites all those running to contact Stockbridge Updates with their answers. Stockbridge Updates announces a change: There are so many candidates and contested races that rather than holding all responses until the end and posting them in a single issue, SU is posting candidate responses a few at a time.
Candidates Q&A
1. Nina Ryan, Planning Board
Hi Carole,
After thinking about it over the weekend, I’ve decided to withdraw from the Planning Board race. I think both Gary and Carl are great candidates and I’d rather support them. It would also be very difficult for me to participate this summer while we’re away. Thanks for giving me a chance to speak to Stockbridge Updates, and thanks for running the views of all the candidates. All best, Nina
2. Carl Sprague, Planning Board
What prompted you to run?
As a lifelong resident of Stockbridge, I’ve always been interested in what makes the Town work — from our amazing Town Meetings to the constellation of individuals and officials who have made Stockbridge interesting and kept it beautiful through the years. I’ve tried to make my own contribution through the years — serving on the Land Trust, creating and chairing the Historic Preservation Commission, working with Laurel Hill, the Fountain Committee, the Mahkeenac Boating Club, and the Vestry of St. Paul’s Church. I recently spent several years working on our instructive Zoning Bylaw Review Committee
What is your prime focus?
I’d like to see Stockbridge focus on keeping our Town center dynamic. We will do this by supporting housing and economic development initiatives where most appropriate and by protecting our Town’s precious rural character.
What would you like to say to the voters?
We’ve seen a lot of pressure for large scale resort development. I think the most important issue with this is the question of scale. We see where some of our neighboring towns have lost sight of this. I don’t believe it’s improved their tax base or created affordable housing.
My professional life has been spent reading plans, so I feel well equipped for this work. Bylaw review is important, but the goal here is to maintain the character of the community. Stockbridge has always been a place where people want to visit, work, raise families, and become part of our long and distinguished history. I will work for these priorities. I promise that I will listen closely to the concerns and goals of the wonderful people who live here.
3. Jack Henderson, Planning Board
Carole:
Thanks for giving me this opportunity to reach out to all of my neighbors in Stockbridge. Can you be sure to add me to the mailing list for Stockbridge Updates and also let me know when the next issue will be out? If at any time you have any questions or issues you want to discuss, please feel free to contact me. Thanks. My answers to your questions are below.
Jack
What prompted you to run?
I retired in 2015 from a long career of planning and implementing major water and wastewater projects around the world which significantly improved millions of people’s lives. I now have the time and ability to focus this experience on improving the lives of the residents of Stockbridge while protecting the character of our community.
What is your prime focus?
I want to facilitate smart, reasonable development to broaden our tax base for all taxpayers. Smart, sensible development can achieve this while protecting the right of homeowners, property owners and business owners alike, as well as protecting what we all love about living in Stockbridge.
What would you like to say to the voters?
Over the course of my career, I have been involved in numerous heated public meetings with many opposing stakeholders with very different views and ideas on what development is sensible and what is not. I have learned how to explore all the different ideas and potential impacts of projects to be able to span most of these differences and reach a consensus on a reasonable plan to proceed with and implement. I believe I can bring this experience to the table to help the people of Stockbridge decide what is sensible development. I am always willing to listen, with an open mind, to any stakeholder’s ideas and/or concerns over any issue before the Planning Board to find, if possible, a consensus solution and can be reached at [deleted] Please feel free to contact me to discuss what’s on your mind.
4. Donald Chabon, Select Board
Thank you very much (for the opportunity) but I’d prefer to wait until after the Democratic Caucus. If you would like to say something from me, please say how pleased I am that you are doing Stockbridge Updates, how valuable it is to our community to have your clear unbiased information, and that I look forward to contributing to the next issue with my answers to Candidate’s Q&A.
Town Election – Open seats in 2021
3-year terms: Moderator, Selectman, Board of Assessors, Board of Health, Tree Warden, Sewer and Water Commission
5-year terms: Planning Board, Planning Board, Housing Authority
Appointments: Finance Committee, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC)
Thank you all for your service. Good luck to incumbents and contenders.
The deadline, March 30, is now passed.
Withdrawn:
- Christine Rasmussen, Planning Board
- Deborah McMenamy, Select Board
- Nina Ryan, Planning Board
The following candidates will appear on the ballot:
Uncontested:
- Donald Schneyer, Water & Sewer Commissioner, incumbent
- Charles Kenny, Board of Health, incumbent
- James Welch, Housing Authority, incumbent
- Gary Pitney, Board of Assessors, incumbent
Even though uncontested, vote for all candidates you support, the final vote count is important.
Contested:
- Gary Johnston, Moderator, incumbent
- Jamie Minacci, Moderator
- Mark Faber, Tree Warden
- Hugh Page, Tree Warden
- Ernest J. (Chuck) Cardillo, Select Board, incumbent
- Donald Chabon, Select Board
- Gary Pitney, Planning Board, incumbent
- Carl Sprague, Planning Board
- Mark Mills, Planning Board
- John M. Henderson, Planning Board
Vote May 18!!! Thank you.
