Stockbridge Updates will publish “Stockbridge Candidates Q&A”
Stockbridge Updates invites all those running to retain their seats and those challenging them to please contact Stockbridge Updates and schedule an interview.
Stockbridge Updates announces a change: There are so many candidates and contested races so 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 beginning in this issue. Here are the first:
Candidates Q & A
1. Gary Pitney, Planning Board, incumbent
Why are you running?
To Serve. To give back to the Town that has given me so much. It is very rewarding to be a part of our community at the governmental level.
Prime Focus:
My prime focus is and always has been to be accessible, approachable, and fair. Make it easier for our community to feel comfortable asking questions and participating in our Town Government. We should all be on a level playing field with a common goal.
What would I like to say?
We have a great Town. It is a wonderful and precious place to live. This requires constant vigilance and care by everyone. We need to manage and care for our Town like the rare Gem that it is. Handle with Care…Be Kind…Be Thoughtful.
2. Mark Mills, Planning Board
What prompted you to run?
As of the end of 2020 I retired from my career as a financial journalist. That has given me the time to offer to serve the community. By nature, I am a planner. I held the Certified Financial Planner designation for 20 years and co-authored a book on retirement planning for the Baby Boom generation.
What would be your prime focus (or the one thing you would like to accomplish during your term in office)?
Stockbridge has a number of older residents who are living on modest incomes. The Town should make efforts to help these folks remain in their homes. We should also try to attract younger families to Stockbridge with an eye toward creating a robust future, while also preserving the rural character of the town.
What would you like to say to voters?
My wife, Nancy, and I have been Stockbridge homeowners since 2002. We moved here full-time six years ago. We chose Stockbridge because it is a wonderful place to live. We have made some great friends here. I have been here long enough to feel a part of the Town. I would like to make a contribution to a place that I have come to love. We have three children and four grandchildren who greatly enjoy their visits. It’s a special place; I want to help preserve and nurture it.
3. Jamie Minacci, Moderator
Hi Carole,
The three questions you posed to us:
A. I feel drawn to run, to end the 43-year term the current position has maintained. I would like to rejuvenate and bring new life to the position of moderator. That All position(s) have term limits…
B. My primary focus will and is to bring equalitarianism to our Town Meetings proceedings. That everyone has an equal opportunity to speak and to vote. To provide each person safety, respect and time to ask questions, to be heard.
C. I would like the citizens to know that I believe civic engagement is essential and necessary, and everyone’s voice needs to be protected and heard. That every citizen’s vote is equal no matter their income, address, education, or age.
4. Donald Schneyer, Water and Sewer Commission, incumbent
Hi Carole,
As a Stockbridge native, I enjoy giving back to the Town that I love. From being on the Stockbridge Fire Department for 38 years to over 30 years on the Water/Sewer Committee to more than 20 years as chair. I enjoy working with different committees and also with the new Town Administrator who has been very helpful. We are completing several projects including moving the water/sewer pipes from the Curtisville Bridge. The bridge is in terrible condition and the pipes needed to be removed. We also will be relocating the water line in the river at the Tuckerman’s bridge. We will take it out and mount it on the side of the bridge. Lastly, we are getting engineering done on the Park Street pump station. We will be replacing this antiquated station. We will continue to work with our forester on forest management around Echo Lake. This has been a project we have been doing for years with the revenue from the logging going into the Town coffers. Thanks.
5. Mark Faber, Tree Warden
What prompted you to run?
I want to help the Town, as my father did it when he was Tree Warden. I have the time, ability, and the knowledge.
What would be your prime focus (or the one thing you would like to accomplish during your term in office)?
Remove bad and dangerous trees, add more variety of trees, ones that can handle climate change.
What would you like to say to voters?
I am open to ideas and will work with everyone. I believe the Town is in good shape, I just want to keep it that way.
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 – alternate
The current occupants of the seats are:
- Gary Johnston, Moderator
- Ernest (Chuckie) Cardillo, Selectman
- Gary Pitney, Chair, Board of Assessors
- Charles Kenny, Chair, Board of Health
- Peter Curtin, Tree Warden
- Donald Schneyer, Chair, Sewer and Water Commission
- Christine Rasmussen, Planning Board
- Gary Pitney, Planning Board
- James Welch, Housing Authority
- Jay Bikofsky, Chair, Finance Committee
Thank you all for your service. Good luck to you and to the contenders.
The people currently in the seats may choose to run again or decline to run. All those wishing to run will return nomination papers with requisite signatures by 5:00pm on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 to gain a place on the printed ballot.
Taken out papers:
- Christine Rasmussen, Planning Board, withdrawn
- Donald Chabon, Select Board
- Deborah McMenamy, Select Board
- Hugh Page, Tree Warden
- Carl Sprague, Planning Board
- Nina Ryan, Planning Board
Collected signatures and returned papers:
- Donald Schneyer, Water & Sewer Commissioner, incumbent
- Gary Johnston, Moderator, incumbent
- Mark Faber, Tree Warden
- Ernest J. (Chuck) Cardillo, Select Board, incumbent
- Charles Kenny, Board of Health, incumbent
- James Welch, Housing Authority, incumbent
- Jamie Minacci, Moderator
- Gary Pitney, Board of Assessors
- Gary Pitney, Planning Board, incumbent
- Mark Mills, Planning Board
- John M. (Jack) Henderson, Planning Board
Carole Owens, Managing Editor
