Three candidates seek Charlemont Selectboard seat
Published: 05-29-2025 2:14 PM |
CHARLEMONT — Voters will decide who among three candidates is most qualified to serve on the Selectboard in the annual Town Election, set for June 3.
Jeffrey Neilsen, Erwin Reynolds and Wilder Sparks are vying for a three-year term on the Charlemont Selectboard. They will replace board member Valentine Reid, who is not seeking re-election. Polls will be open on Tuesday from noon to 7 p.m. at Town Hall on Main Street.
Sparks, 44, was raised in Charlemont and said if elected he has no “specific goals or political agenda.” He sees the Selectboard as his opportunity to serve the town and work with his neighbors, but would also like to preserve the town’s character as an agricultural community and work with businesses to bring in more tourism dollars.
“My main goal is to participate in what’s happening in town, but I think a big priority of mine is preserving the character of the community. Agriculture is a really big priority of mine,” Sparks said. “But mainly, I see this as a job of service, not a job to push an agenda. It’s a job to come to an understanding with the people as to what the agenda should be.”
Sparks added that while he plans to listen to the wants and needs of Charlemont residents, he hopes those include “fighting to save Hawlemont.” He said if residents overwhelmingly agree to move forward with consolidating the school and merging with the Mohawk Trail Regional School District, he would consider supporting it, but believes it is important to remain separate.
“Preserving the school is important. People want to keep the school and I want to help with that,” he said.
Sparks said he is glad to have opponents in the election, and while he hopes voters support him, he believes the other candidates would also make good Selectboard members.
“I’ve met the people who are running and I think they’d each do a good job,” Sparks said.
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Neilsen, 38, owns and operates Hinata Retreat on Warfield Road with his wife Jen. While new to town, he said he is ready to serve and learn more about his new community. He was inspired to run for the seat after talking to Planning Board members during the process of getting Hinata approved, and after speaking to other residents at a master plan visioning session held earlier this year.
“I was invited to the town vision meeting and everybody just opened my eyes to all the different things that could happen here and I want to help,” Neilsen said.
If elected, Neilsen said he plans to run the town like a business and work to make it profitable, which could include improvements to downtown and working to bring in more businesses.
“It has to be a profitable business to operate, and that is really looking at every avenue to make sure it stays profitable,” Neilsen said.
He said voters should consider voting for him because he is a hard worker who will act on a vision of the town’s future as presented by residents.
“Do you want somebody that’s actually going to fight for it, or do you want somebody that’s just going to talk? I’m a fighter, not a talker,” Neilsen said.
Reynolds could not be reached for comment.
The ballot is as follows:
■Park and Recreation Commission, five-year term: Clay Herbert
■Constable, three-year term: Erwin Reynolds
■Hawlemont School Committee, three-year term: incumbent Anne Kaplan
■Mohawk Trail School Committee, three-year term: incumbent Evelyn Locke
■Tyler Memorial Library Trustee, three-year term: incumbent Evelyn Locke
■Tree Warden, three-year term: Jack Rybczyk
There are also several positions on available without any candidates running. On the ballot is a one-year term as Town Moderator, three-year term on the Board of Assessors, three-year term on the Board of Health, five-year term on the Planning Board, and two-year term on the Hawlemont School Committee.
To vote for someone who’s name does not appear on the ballot, write their name and address in the write-in candidate space.
For more information about voting contact the Town Clerks office at 413-339-4335 ext. 7
Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com