A Dublin Selectman candidate has withdrawn from the race and thrown his support behind a write-in candidate.
Brooks Johnson told the Ledger-Transcript on Thursday he will no longer be running against Allan “Geoff” Pinney for the three-year seat, which is being vacated by Selectman Sturdy Thomas.
“I decided to run because I have a difference of opinion than the other gentleman running, but between work and family obligations I realized I wouldn’t have the time available,” Johnson said.
Johnson said his name will still appear on the ballot, as he decided to withdraw too late, but expressed that he would not take the position if elected.
“It’s not my intention to screw up the election,” Johnson said, with a laugh. “ I want residents to know; I don’t want to decline the position if I win. I care about the town, I just can’t do it at this time.”
Instead, Johnson will support David Wolpe – who decided two weeks ago that he would run a write-in campaign in Johnson’s stead.
“He wants to see the town in the right place and has the time available,” Johnson said of Wolpe.
Wolpe said he was inspired to run after people in town reached out to him and explained the situation with Johnson.
“I want to bring intelligence and reasonableness [to the board,]” Wolpe said. “… It certainly will be an uphill climb to actually have people write in my name. It’s a big lift.”
Wolpe said he has thought about running for a town position in the past – he has seven years of experience serving on the Dublin Community Center board – but had never acted upon it.
When interviewed Thursday afternoon, Wolpe said he was in the process of doing more research about the needs of the town and what issues the current Select Board is involved in.
“It’s not like I’ve started with some big agenda. I want to talk to some folks and see what they feel some of the issues are,” Wolpe said.
Wolpe, a computer programmer currently working as a consultant, advocated Thursday for better broadband access in town, though he admitted that cost would be a factor.
In general, Wolpe said he is “somewhat conservative” when it comes to spending.
“You have to look at the need and the benefit,” Wolpe said. “Something like having faster internet would be a big draw for people who need the internet for anything besides happy wandering,” Wolpe said. “I think it’s worthwhile if the cost is not prohibitive.”
Pinney said Wednesday he is running for a seat on the Select Board to advocate for all residents in town and to keep taxes low.
Specifically, Pinney said he was upset about selectmen calling a special town meeting this past fall to raise $225,000 for road repairs caused by flooding in August.
Pinney said he would have rather covered the expense by utilizing the town’s unreserved fund balance and capital reserve funds.
“We didn’t need that special appropriation,” Pinney said. “… We have reserve funds for that purpose. I think it’s important to get that money back to the taxpayers.”
Pinney said he also thinks its important to keep Dublin Consolidated School in town.
“That school is a big part of the town,” Pinney said. “We need more young people and young families in town.”
Pinney said he is concerned about the ConVal School District ballot this year, and the financial impact it may have on Dublin.
Pinney said tabling some warrant article votes to a second meeting later in the year could provide the town some time to analyze the impact of the results of the ConVal ballot.
“If the 60-40 apportionment formula goes through, Dublin is going to get slammed,” Pinney said. “If that happens, we may not want to spend money on some warrant articles.”