CHARLEMONT — When voters make their way to Hawlemont Regional School on Tuesday, June 2 for the town election, they will see one contested race for a three-year seat on the Board of Assessors, between incumbent Karen Rau and new candidate James “Jim” Sinclair.
Polls will be open on Tuesday from noon until 7 p.m. at the elementary school.
While Rau, who is currently the chair of the Board of Assessors, could not be reached for comment this week, Sinclair, 70, says as he begins the process of retiring, he has more time on his hands. He says he’s looked into different committees and boards at the town level, and the Board of Assessors “piqued my interest, if you will, and I have some background in doing assessing work in my prior utility life.”
Sinclair currently works at Joseph S. Rae as a project manager, a position he’s held for multiple years. J.S. Rae is an underground utility construction company based in Shelburne Falls. He also says in the past, he’s served on other boards in other towns across Franklin County. When asked his goals, he said he wants to keep the assessing process fair.
“Primarily, it’s to carry on the responsibility of making sure that assessments of properties are done in a fair and objective manner,” Sinclair said. “The state has a lot to say relative to how that process is governed, but there is some local input in that process, and there’s training associated with it that’s provided by the state.”
He says that being on the Board of Assessors would be an opportunity to give back to the town, and that he appreciates residents of Charlemont considering him for the position.
“It’s an area I think I can add value, and make sure the assessment process is fair and equitable,” Sinclair said.
Other races
The rest of the races are uncontested, and there are no questions on this year’s ballot. There are four seats that have no listed candidates, those being a three-year seat on the Board of Health, a one-year seat on the Planning Board, a three-year seat on the Mohawk Trail Regional School Committee and a two-year seat on the Local Education Council. There is a declared write-in candidate for the Board of Health seat, with Jonathan Mirin saying that if he is written in he will accept the position.
The rest of the uncontested races are as follows:
- Selectboard, three-year term — incumbent Kim Blakeslee.
- Moderator, one-year term — incumbent Robert Handsaker.
- Planning Board, three-year term — incumbent Molly Cantor.
- Planning Board, five-year term — incumbent Bob Nelson.
- Parks and Recreation Commission, five-year term — incumbent Barbara McKenna.
- Constable, three-year term — incumbent William Harker.
- Hawlemont School Committee, three-year term — incumbent Ashley Sparks.
- Tyler Memorial Library Board of Trustees, three-year term — incumbent Andrea Santos.
