GREENFIELD — “We tend to look at presidential elections in this country as being very personality focused,” said Shelburne Selectman Andrew Baker about Tuesday’s presidential election, adding, “it’s really important for people to look at the big picture and say ‘what is it we want to accomplish, and how does that get done.’”
Baker was one of a few local politicians and community leaders who stepped forward to share their thoughts on this historic presidential election.
“We are at a crossroads in this country,” said Greenfield Planning Board Chairwoman Roxann Wedegartner, “between choosing to move forward, and taking a step or seven backwards. There’s no question that we’re fraught with a lot of war and violence all over the world. I want someone to lead this country who understands that.”
“Because of the type of election that’s going on this year, we’re an embarrassment to other countries. For somebody that’s supposed to have the most powerful country, we’re looking like we’re falling really short of that,” noted Greenfield Town Councilor Penny Ricketts. “Regardless of which (candidate) gets in, there will always be ‘X’ amount of people who are speaking negatively. We need to learn how to come together. There’s work that needs to be done.”
“We’re neck and neck in a lot of the swing states. It’s a unique and historic time for us, as people who are witnessing it,” said Franklin County Register of Probate John Merrigan.
Chief among concerns raised was what will happen to the United States the day after the election.
“Stay engaged,” said former state legislator and Agriculture Secretary Jay Healy about the day after the election. Healy said the campaign leading up to Tuesday has been “dispiriting and negative. Hopefully, we’ll overcome that in the future. That’s very disconcerting, especially to those of us who’ve devoted our lives to public service, and still believe that it’s a good way to help people out.”
“I’m as concerned with where we are on Nov. 9 as neighbors, friends and the community, as I am with the results on Nov. 8,” said Shelburne businessman Mike McCusker. “Are we going to be ready to remold our bolts and guns into plowshares?”
McCusker related a poem by Robert Frost about two neighbors who repair a stone wall together, each on their own side of the property. He said the neighbors will experience the same thing in the days following the 2016 presidential election.
“I think of that, are we willing to walk up at least on our own sides of a wall, and each contribute to and repair it, because that’s probably going to have to be done,” he added, noting that because of Franklin County’s many small-towns, residents are already familiar with putting friendship over political ideologies.
“When you look at the gridlock that’s been locking up our national government for quite some time now, it clearly takes more than a president for that to get done,” Baker continued, adding that whichever candidate is elected, people should turn to local elections in order to make a difference.
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