A Season for Making Choices

By Colleen Gundlach

As we come into election season, the signs have popped up on lawns from one end of town to the other. Despite all of the turmoil in national politics, Norfolk is having a relatively calm and well-mannered municipal election, which is good, but is it this quiet because we have become complacent?

With both the Republicans and Democrats endorsing Matt Riiska for first selectman, Sarah Bruso for tax collector and Chelsea Byrne for town treasurer, these offices are already set, with no competition. This is most likely an example of bipartisan agreement on the right people for the positions at this time. 

On the ballot this year, there are two seats unopposed – Board of Finance alternate for a full term and Planning & Zoning (P&Z) full term vacancy. Still other races have only enough people running to fill the seats and are essentially unopposed. The people running for Board of Selectmen will both be seated, with the total number of votes determining who will be second selectman and who will be third.

In addition, there are two people running for P&Z Alternate and two seats open, so both candidates will be seated, barring any unforeseen circumstances. The same is true for the Zoning Board of Appeals (two candidates, three seats) and Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate (two seats, two candidates.)

It is discouraging that there are so many empty spaces on the ballot.  I know from experience that it’s difficult to step forward and run for a municipal office.  First of all, there is the uncomfortable position of having to campaign against a friend or neighbor, or even debate them in public. Then there are the times when the debate becomes heated even among friends. And then there’s the disappointment if you lose. 

No, it’s not easy to run for public office, but if not you, then who?  I am sure that the town committee chairman of your particular party – or maybe both parties if you are an unaffiliated voter – has contacted you more than once to ask you to lend your time and talents to your town government, and you have said no.  You’re too busy or don’t like politics or are best friends with the other candidate. There are a myriad of reasons why you won’t run for office, but there are roughly 1,500 reasons why you should – your fellow Norfolkians. 

Each of us has a talent or two, and these talents are different from those of your neighbor. If you are good at budgets and numbers, help your fellow townspeople out by running for Board of Finance next time around. Do you like working with the land and determining the best uses for it? Run for P&Z or Zoning Board of Appeals. Are you one who has input to contribute to the education system?  Then run for Board of Education. 

Speaking of the Board of Education – that’s one place where people really stepped up this year.  There are three seats open on the school board and six people running. These people said yes when their town committee chairman called. They are all good people who want the best for the Botelle children now and for the future, and three of them are going to be disappointed. But at least they stood up and offered to get into the discussion on the future of our kids.  Now the question for the town is this: What is the best combination of personalities/experience to add to the current school board membership? That’s something the voters will decide at the polls.

So, you may have been complacent about stepping up to run for office, but don’t be complacent about voting. We need you – whether Democrat, Republican or Unaffiliated – to get over to Town Hall on Nov. 5 and cast your vote for the people you believe will do the best jobs for Norfolk, regardless of party affiliation.  And maybe, just maybe, we might see your name on the ballot next time around.