Above: Last year’s Candidates’ Night drew a good turnout. Library Trustees are inviting voters to join them again to learn what this year’s candidates for selectmen have to say. (image cropped from SAM tweet)
When I originally asked you to save the date for Candidates Night, May felt so far away. Now it’s here. (Or at least it will be later this week.)
The annual night to get to know the candidates running for contested positions is this Thursday, May 2nd. With two important seats up for grab, you might want to take part in the job interview.
The Southborough Library Trustees invite:
The Trustees of the Southborough Library will hold their annual “Candidates’ Night” at the Southborough Library, 25 Main Street, Southborough on Thursday evening, May 2, 2019. This event gives Southborough voters a chance to meet the candidates, ask questions and get answers. All candidates running for election or re-election in the Annual Town Election have been invited.
The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a “Meet & Greet” session for the public and all candidates for office. A “Q&A” session with candidates in contested races answering questions will begin at 7:00 p.m. Candidates in uncontested races will be recognized. Former Library Trustee and Event Organizer Betsy Rosenbloom will serve as Moderator. Sandwiches and sweets will be available.
The Annual Town Election is Tuesday, May 14, 2019. “Candidates’ Night” is a key part of the Library’s long-range effort to provide civic programming as part of its overall mission to be “the center for life-long learning at the crossroads of our community.” Handicap access is available through the elevator at the lower level entrance at the corner of Main Street/Route 30 and Route 85.
For those of you who haven’t been keeping tabs. . . There is only one contested race this year. That’s for the Board of Selectmen.
The following four residents running for seats being vacated by outgoing selectmen Bonnie Phaneuf and Brian Shifrin:
- Steven J. David
- Martin F. Healey
- Joseph E. Hubley
- Sam Stivers
As I previously posted, if you plan to use an absentee ballot, you’ll want to apply very soon. Click here for a reminder of those details.
For the rest of you, be sure to mark your calendars to vote on Tuesday, May 14th.
[Editor’s Note to the Candidates: I welcome one letter from each candidate. You can submit those between now and the evening of May 9th. You can email the letters, a photo, and any questions to mysouthborough@gmail.com.]
interesting questions for the candidates:
what are your thoughts on the need for split ( business + residential ) tax rate?
Do you have any other concrete ideas that might slow down the never ending increase in property taxes?
What are your thoughts on the growing OPEB ( other post employment benefits ) liability?
hoping to hear specific answers on issues over which they will have some control… not wishful thinking comments on slowing down growth and increasing PILOT…
do questions just get asked from the attendees ? or is Betsy consolidating questions in advance?
I don’t have that information from the Library or Betsy.
I am sure the audience will be encouraged to ask questions. I presume that, as moderator, Betsy will be prepared to ask some questions if there is a lull. I hadn’t asked if she was making any changes to have questions “submitted” first or if she is planning to ask some questions even if there is a line at the mic instead of a lull. Since the event is tonight – it’s a bit late for me to check on that.
The audience is encouraged to ask questions.
There are no pre-submitted questions.
Hope to see you there!
Sorry I missed being able to share this before the event!