Contests for town clerk, library trustee on Colrain ballot

Published: 05-09-2025 3:55 PM
Modified: 05-12-2025 5:15 PM |
COLRAIN — Residents will decide the outcome of contested races for town clerk and library trustee in this year’s town election on Tuesday.
Incumbent Town Clerk Anna Lavarreda is seeking reelection to another three-year term, and is being challenged by Emma Coburn.
Lavarreda, 40, has served as town clerk since 2022. Outside of Lavarreda’s town clerk duties, they work as a capacity building manager at Health Resources in Action. Lavarreda said they have learned a lot about running elections, managing the town’s files, and issuing birth and death certificates over the past few years. If reelected, Lavarreda plans to continue their education to become a more efficient clerk.
“These past three years have been really amazing. I’ve absorbed so much information and I’m still learning new processes every year. There’s just so much to know,” Lavarreda said during a “Meet the Candidates Night” hosted by the Griswold Memorial Library in April. “What I’m really looking forward to if I’m reelected is I’ll get to keep building on this knowledge. … I would like to really build on the work I’ve been doing, including a lot of digitizing. ”
Lavarreda said they understand that some residents have expressed concerns with her availability since they took on a second job last fall, but they said they are still committed to Colrain. Lavarreda is working on becoming a notary and justice of the peace, which will allow them to oversee marriages and other legal ceremonies.
Coburn, 33, owns Wild Mare Farrier Service, spends her days doing hoof trimmings. She said she is an organized person, and if elected as town clerk, she will spend 20 hours a week in the office, including during the afternoons and evenings.
“I have four kids that are all very active and outgoing, and that in turn has brought me out into the community to meet different people through sports and different extracurriculars,” Coburn said. “While I don’t have the background knowledge that Anna has, I believe that community connection is strong in me.”
Also on the ballot is a contested race for Griswold Memorial Library trustee. There are two seats with three-year terms available and three candidates are running: incumbent Martin Dagoberto Lydgate Driggs, Hadley Looman and Melinda Connors.
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Lydgate Driggs, 40, has served as a library trustee since 2022. If reelected, he hopes to continue to work with the other trustees to promote the library as a community center that provides a wealth of resources while also expanding its programs, such as Colrain Fix-It Day.
“To me, our library is about more than just books; it’s about helping us connect to our past and preparing us for the future, providing patriotic spaces where we’re able to exercise free speech and civic engagement,” Lydgate Driggs said.
Looman, 33, grew up in Colrain and developed an interest in joining the trustees after attending some meetings and watching how they operate. If elected, she hopes to help continue the trustees’ current work and would like to develop a seed library.
“It has been amazing to see what the trustees have been doing for our library, and their focus on community and making the space a space others can come and enjoy,” Looman said. “I just really appreciate what the trustees have been doing and I would like to be a part of the trustees.”
Connors, 62, said she believes the library has fulfilled its mission of being a community hub, and if elected, she hopes to increase programming and event opportunities at the library for adults and seniors.
“Libraries are a place where everybody comes, and information is free to everybody. No matter their socioeconomic status, political persuasion — the library is open to everybody,” Connors said. “I feel it is my job as a good citizen to participate in town government. That’s why I’m running for library trustee.”
The uncontested races on the ballot are as follows:
■Assessor, three-year term — incumbent Nicholas Anzuoni.
■Selectboard, three-year term — incumbent Benjamin Eastman.
■Mohawk Trail Regional School District School Committee, three-year term — incumbent John Chivers.
There is also a three-year term for constable on the ballot, but no one took out nomination papers for the position. The position can be won by write-in votes. Voters can write their chosen candidate’s name and address on the line, then fill in the bubble.
Polls will be open from noon to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13, at the Town Offices, 55 Main Road.
Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.
An earlier version of this article used incorrect pronouns for incumbent Town Clerk Anna Lavarreda, who uses they/them pronouns.