CONWAY — Gerald L. Levitre is used to serving the public.
Following a four-year stint in the U.S. Air Force in the 1960s, the Gill native served as a police officer in Savannah, Ga., until 1969, when he moved home to western Massachusetts, eventually joining the Northampton Police Department.
Now, he hopes that experience is enough to win him a three-year seat on the Conway Selectboard in Thursday’s election. He goes up against Robert A. Armstrong Jr. Selectboard member Jim Moore is not running for re-election. Polls will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Conway Town Hall.
Levitre is proud of his 32 years of service as a police officer and said they taught him to be a good mediator. He worked in Savannah during the Civil Rights movement and saw first-hand how nasty situations can get when people disagree and don’t get along. He was sworn in to the Northampton Police Department on Dec. 7, 1970, and worked his way up to lieutenant. He said he was fortunate to oversee an increase in racial and gender diversity on the force.
“We had a great rapport with each other,” he said.
Levitre said he also earned a certificate in human development from Babson College in 1988.
He said his goal on the Selectboard would be to find “a happy medium” on controversial issues.
“We have a number of things that are going to go on in the town of Conway and we need to bring people together,” he said.
Levitre said he has not made up his mind on the proposed pipeline project, though he will advocate for the majority opinion of his constituents.
He also said there are roadways and bridges in Conway that must be repaired, with priority given to the bridge from Route 116 to North Poland Road.
You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 257. On Twitter, follow @DomenicPoli