Editorial – Time to run is now

Some of the major issues facing Monadnock region towns over the past few years – Silver Scone Teas in New Ipswich, the Hancock Inn, the ConVal School District reconfiguration and Walden Eco Village in Peterborough – have been or are being handled by volunteer board members.

Although towns and school districts have paid administrative personnel to provide technical knowledge and day-to-day decision-making, many decisions that impact the direction of the community rest with volunteers. They decide on issues big and small – many in the late stretches of long meetings when they could otherwise be home with their families – because they are motivated by love of community and a desire to make it the best that they can.

It can be a thankless task. Walden Eco Village took years to sort out in front of the Peterborough Planning Board. Neighbors opposed to Select Board, Planning Board and Zoning Board decisions on Silver Scone Teas have appealed those decisions in court and questioned the impartiality of board members. The Hancock Historic District Commission has been thrown into the spotlight over a dispute over the town landmark that is the Hancock Inn, and the ConVal School Board just recommended closing four elementary schools.

But even when decisions are controversial, the community needs people making those decisions, which is where elections come in.

With the exception of Peterborough – which votes for offices other than School Board in May – all of the towns in the Monadnock region will hold elections in March for offices ranging from Select Board to Planning Board to supervisor of the checklist and trustee of the trust funds. This is the opportunity for residents to determine how they want their towns to be run. We encourage everyone looking to take on a leadership role to visit their town clerk or look on their town’s website to learn the filing rules and deadline dates to run for office.

The right for the people to choose their leaders through voting makes democracy what it is, and democracy is strongest when multiple, committed candidates offer their services. Many of our local elected officials do excellent work in their thankless tasks, and we hope that they, along with newcomers looking to be part of the process, step forward.