Francestown announced its declared candidates for this year’s town and school elected positions on Monday. There are competitors vying for seats on the town’s Select Board, Planning Board, and School Board positions.
“We haven’t had a competitive election for any office in town in about four years,” Town Administrator Jamie Pike said.
Marsha Dixon and Ron Shattuck are two newcomers running for the single opening on the Select Board. Melissa Shattuck is challenging incumbents Sarah Hibbard Pyle and Betsy Hardwick in the race for the two open spots on the Planning Board, and Kevin Pobst is racing against incumbent Stephan Morrissey for Francestown’s slot on the ConVal School Board.
Running unopposed are Jo Ann Miller, for re-election as a Trustee of Trust Funds, David Hanlon, for re-election as a Fire Ward, Margaret Merrow, for Library Trustee, Bridget Howell, for the Cemetery Commission position vacated by Ruth Behrsing, and Michael J. Tartalis, for a vacant Supervisor of the Checklist position.
Pike recommends that residents try and learn as much about the candidates as possible. “I will be,” he said. Residents will have an opportunity to hear from candidates on Candidate Night, Pike said, which is organized by Francestown News, and tentatively scheduled for March 5.