CONWAY — A longtime resident is challenging incumbent John O’Rourke for a seat on the Selectboard.
“The more I started talking to people,” said Selectboard candidate Erica Goleman, “the more feedback I got about the incumbent and … a lot of people expressed a desire for someone else to run, a desire for change.”
Conway’s town election is scheduled to take place Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
The open three-year seat on the Selectboard is the only contested race on the ballot this year. Two openings — a three-year term on the Planning Board and a one-year term for town moderator — have no declared candidates.
Goleman, who moved to Conway in 1997 to pursue a master’s degree in education from Smith College, said she was nominated by a resident to run for Selectboard.
“I sort of felt like I had a responsibility to serve my neighbors,” she said. “I feel like I was asked to be a public servant and I feel like that’s an honor.”
She currently works in higher education marketing and information technology at Greenfield Community College, according to her campaign statement. Previously, she worked in the capacity of grant writing and project management. She’s worked at the college for almost 21 years.
Goleman has also served for many years as the treasurer of the Conway Firemen’s Auxiliary, a nonprofit that assists the Conway Fire Department with emergency response efforts. The organization responded to the tornado in 2017, she said, and whenever there is a fire in town, it supports the victims of the fire.
Goleman said that while she may not have the experience on the board that her opponent has, she feels she is a less polarizing candidate.
In an interview, she referenced comments made by O’Rourke in relation to a Town Meeting vote to pass the Safe Community bylaw — a bylaw he was not in support of — in which he remarked on the “radical rants” of individuals in the community.
“People know that they can talk to me,” she later wrote in an email. “And I believe that my neighbors will absolutely feel adequately represented by me on the Selectboard, regardless of our political beliefs.”
O’Rourke, a Conway resident of almost two decades, said his experience sets him apart from his opponent.
“I’ve gained extensive knowledge, not only for the position but for the law, the policies, the way we run the town,” he said. “And I think that’s valuable experience that puts me in an extremely good position to do what I’ve been doing the last nine years.”
O’Rourke, who has served three terms on the board, said he prides himself on his business experience. He has 40 years of experience in financial analysis, valuation, management consulting, internet and energy, according to his campaign statement.
During his time as a Selectboard member, the town has kept its finances in “excellent shape,” O’Rourke said.
“We’re in excellent shape compared to some of the towns of equal size in Western Massachusetts,” he said.
Looking forward, as the town continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, O’Rourke said it is important that Conway continue offering essential services without harming staff, or needing to raise taxes.
“That’s going to be tough over the next year or two,” he said. “Certainly, my financial experience lends to that.”
He added that he’s not a politician.
“People will know exactly how I stand on issues, whether that opinion is popular or not,” he said. “Essentially, I will tell you the truth about what I think.”
Voters will also be asked on Tuesday to ratify a Town Meeting vote that authorized the treasurer/collector to borrow up to $200,000 to partially make up for any fiscal year 2021 revenue deficit, if needed, after the use of free cash and general stabilization appropriation.
■Board of Assessors, three-year term — Malcolm Corse
■Board of Health, three-year term — Devin Whitney-Deal
■Board of Health, three-year term — Mithilde Hunting
■Conway School Committee, two positions with three-year terms — Philip Kantor and Michael Merritt
■Conway School Committee, one-year term — Denise Storm
■Planning Board, three-year term — Beth Girshman
■Planning Board, three-year term — no candidate
■Tree warden, three-year term — Walter Goodridge
■Moderator, one-year term — no candidate
Reach Mary Byrne at 413-772-0261, ext. 263 or mbyrne@recorder.com.