Lifelong Shelburne resident seeks Selectboard seat

RODNEY McBRIDE

RODNEY McBRIDE

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

Staff Writer

Published: 05-16-2025 2:50 PM

SHELBURNE — Rodney McBride, 69, is seeking a three-year term on the Selectboard in an uncontested race.

McBride, who has served on boards in Shelburne in the past, including the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Board, looks to fill the position held by Tricia Yacovone-Biagi, who is not seeking reelection. She served a one-year term, filling a vacancy following the death of Robert “Bob” Manners.

A lifelong Shelburne resident, McBride works as a self-employed carpenter. He said he’s looking to join the board due to his interest in being civically engaged and giving back to the community.

“I just think that if you live in a small town — and it’s the way my parents brought me up — that you always try to give back to the town that you’re from,” he said, adding that this is the perfect time for him to get involved again.

Speaking about his goals if he is elected to the Selectboard, McBride said he feels the town is “running in a pretty nice pace,” and he’s had people express their ideas to him, but before forming an opinion on any one issue, he’d like to become more informed on topics, such as the possible reorganization of the Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont Regional school districts to increase financial sustainability.

“Once I hear about things, I tend to want to think about them, roll them over in my mind for a little bit,” he said.

Ultimately, he said he feels having run his own small business, McBride Construction, and having worked on Shelburne boards before has prepared him for the Selectboard position. He added that he could also be of assistance for fellow small business owners if he is elected.

The remaining uncontested races on the ballot are as follows:

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■Town clerk, one-year term — Joseph Judd, incumbent.

■Moderator, one-year term — Roland Giguere, incumbent.

■Planning Board, five-year term — T. Wilson Flanders, incumbent.

■Shelburne Free Public Library trustees, two seats with three-year terms — Tom Webler and Michael Sokolovsky.

■Recreation Committee, five-year term — Diana Hardina, incumbent.

■Tree warden, one-year term — Garth LaPointe.

■Constable, three-year term — James Stacy, incumbent.

There are also a series of positions with no candidates on the ballot: a three-year term on the Board of Assessors, a three-year term on the Mohawk Trail Regional School District School Committee, a three-year term on the Recreation Committee, a one-year term on Recreation Committee and a one-year term on the Planning Board.

Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, at Cowell Gymnasium, located at 51 Maple St.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.