If you missed the August 6, 2025, debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters between Jorja Marsden and Sally Underwood-Miller for Stockbridge Select Board (SB), you missed a moment of joy in American politics. When was the last time you felt happy about politics or politicians — felt the stress slip away and a smile take its place? When was the last time you heard warm applause, not polite dismissal?
I watched the debate and came away with the strongest conviction of my 50 years in Stockbridge: I support them both. We need them both, and we need them now. They should run until both are elected and in their seats at our Stockbridge Select Board table. After the debate many mentioned wanting both women. If that means Chuck or Jamie steps down, well that’s one idea; others suggested a five-person SB.
We need committed, competent Board members unafraid of work, and able to, you know, talk without creating tension…socially interact without sneering…walk side by side without trying to trip the other one up. Mostly, and immediately, we need a Select Board that is, as intended, the head of our government. By law, the Select Board is our chief executive, we have never chosen to have a mayor.
When was the last time politics made you feel energized? Was it August 6 when you heard a politician acknowledge a problem and suggest solving it together? When was the last time you felt like standing up and speaking out? Was it August 6 when you heard a woman running for office say she wanted to hear public comment first in a meeting because “…the people may have thought of something we didn’t.”
We have been languishing and not without cause. There is a bureaucratic approach in our village now that was never Stockbridge. Someone decided that if something is a SB decision, the SB doesn’t want to hear from the people? Someone decided that if it is legal that is the only obligation of a government to its people and not if it is also kind or nice or just plain friendly?
On August 26, we don’t have to slouch toward the voting booth, hoping we are voting for the lesser of two evils. On the contrary, we have two good, solid choices. Smile!
You know why they agreed on so much? Because actually there is truth and fact and the basics of our form of government. They agreed we have freedom of speech, protection under the law, and human rights. They agreed this is a representative government and our representatives are intended to represent the will of the people. They agreed that Stockbridge has a Town Meeting form of democratic rule wherein the SB is the executive and Town Meeting is the legislature.
One candidate so acknowledged and the other said, “What she said.”
Carole Owens
Executive Editor
