NORTHFIELD — Next week’s town election will see a pair of incumbents, Barbara “Bee” Jacque and Sarah Kerns, hoping to retain their seats on the Selectboard while facing a challenge from political newcomer Shane Duclos.
The Selectboard race, to decide who will fill two seats with three-year terms, is the only contested race. Polls will be open at Town Hall on Tuesday, May 5, from noon to 8 p.m.
Barbara “Bee” Jacque
Jacque is seeking reelection in hopes of continuing her ongoing efforts. She is passionate about projects that involve public safety, and sewer and water infrastructure, and she said she enjoys representing Northfield on a state and regional level.
“I feel like I can’t step away at this point. … We’re at such a good point with getting federal and state attention on infrastructure. We have such a good working relationship with our legislators and our congressional offices,” she said. “I feel like if I didn’t run, I would be dropping out at a really critical time.”
Jacque, 68, has served on the Selectboard for six years. She also serves on the Sewer Commission and has spent seven years on the Historical Commission. She said she feels as though her experience in Northfield and regionally, as well as her correspondence with other town committees, sets her apart as a candidate.
There are two issues in Northfield that Jacque said still need “attention and funding.” One is to continue working with the pilot program to bring more tourism to Northfield. She highlighted the “Holiday Passport” event that encouraged residents and non-residents alike to visit local businesses. Additionally, she wants to work on the Northfield town website and make use of social media to expand communication with the public.
Jacque also touched on her role representing Northfield throughout FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.’s ongoing relicensing process through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). She is hopeful for possible recreation improvements on the Connecticut River as a result of the relicensing requirements, explaining that she wants to spend time in that “creative area of more economic development, have it tie in with recreation and have it tie in with historical tourism, because we’re such a historical place.”
She went on to say she enjoys building community and speaking with people personally, and she looks forward to seeing ongoing projects come to fruition.
“Northfield is a special place. … It’s where history, recreation, small-town life comes together beautifully, and yet we’re doing great things with police, EMS, fire,” she said. “I just see a lot of the things I’ve been working on coming together in the next year or two, so I’m very excited about that.”
Sarah Kerns
Kerns, who has served three years on the Selectboard, said the skills she has gained throughout her career and life allow her to be effective in her role.
In addition to Selectboard, Kerns, 55, serves on the Conservation Commission, the Open Space Committee and the Flag Committee, as well as on a regional committee that helps to guide Northfield EMS. She received her bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College in biochemistry and psychology, and her master’s degree from Dartmouth College in cognitive neuroscience. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at Dartmouth College in neuroscience.
Kerns said she is interested in leaning into Northfield’s natural beauty and character, and she hopes that Northfield holds onto its “core.”
“The town is a gem of natural beauty, and I think that we should not forget that when we are making our long-term and short-term plans. … We shouldn’t be trying to be something other than what we are, because the natural beauty is not only what makes us strong and what makes us special, but some towns are doing less and less of that,” she explained.
Kerns is also looking to create more digestible public data and information for residents, so they can be well-informed. She hopes to make it easier for residents to participate in government discussions about what’s going on in town.
One way this can be accomplished is through electronic voting at Town Meetings. Northfield’s current voting system requires residents to raise their hands to vote, which Kerns believes doesn’t allow for resident privacy. To combat this, she wants to follow the lead of towns like Erving and buy remote controls so residents’ votes can stay anonymous.
“People get the privacy of their vote, so they get to vote their conscience rather than what they are worried their neighbor will think,” she said.
Kerns, who moved to Northfield less than five years ago, celebrated her connection to the town and spoke to her desire to apply her skills to make an impact.
“There are many, many people who have lived in this town their whole lives. I’m obviously not one of them, but I am one of the people [for whom] Northfield is my permanent home,” she said. “I just love the town and I love the people. I really fell in love with the place.”
Shane Duclos
Duclos, 51, moved to Northfield in 2018. While he hasn’t served on any boards or committees in town, he is a member of the Fire Department and the Northfield Dive/Rescue Team. Additionally, he works at the University of Massachusetts Amherst as assistant director of building maintenance.
“With a background in physical plant, I think I can make a difference here in town. … By joining the Fire Department, I’ve tried to make myself as [involved in] the community as I can as soon as I moved out here,” he said.
The two main issues that Duclos wants to address in Northfield are increased transparency between those serving in town government and residents, and more effective building maintenance. He emphasized the importance of having all reports and town information be readily available online.
“I’m going to make sure that anything coming across the board is going to be well-read and researched before I come to the meeting,” he continued. “I understand we have to get things done and do it in a financially responsible way.”
In terms of infrastructure maintenance, Duclos is interested in making sure that buildings are consistently repaired to prevent further damage. He said the town needs more “direction” in maintaining buildings such as the Town Hall or the schools, and he suggested “planning these things out and addressing them appropriately as opposed to waiting until something breaks.”
Duclos has also voiced a desire to foster communication between the town and the Pioneer Valley Regional School District and Franklin County Technical School, saying at a recent candidates forum that he’d like to “work on improving educational opportunities without defaulting to broad regionalization.”
He explained that he offers a “different point of view” to the town. Duclos highlighted his leadership skills, citing his experience managing 125 people at UMass. He also described himself as a “point person” who works hard to get things done.
“I’m a parent, a husband, a firefighter, a taxpayer,” he said. “I want to see the town succeed in keeping taxes at a reasonable level for everybody, and get things done.”
Uncontested positions, ballot question
The remaining positions on the ballot, which are uncontested, are as follows:
- Board of Assessors, three-year term — Alice Lord, incumbent.
- Library trustees, two seats with three-year terms — Jon McGowan and Peter Weis, both incumbents.
- Recreation Commission, three-year term — Laura Fries, incumbent.
- Sewer Commission, two seats with three-year terms — Karen Boudreau, incumbent, and Matthew Belden.
- Planning Board, two seats with five-year terms — Joseph Graveline and Tammy Pelletier, both incumbents.
- Grandin Water District, three-year term — Peter Weis, incumbent.
Two positions — a three-year term on the Board of Health and a veteran’s position on the Board of Trustees of Veterans Memorials & Veterans Services, also with a three-year term — do not have any candidates on the ballot, but can be won by write-in votes.
Alongside the candidates, there is also a ballot question. The question, asking if the town should have its elected constables become appointed constables, passed at the last Annual Town Meeting but still must receive approval at the ballot box to take effect.
