Brighenti running for re-election

ATHOL — Anthony Brighenti wants to stay the course.

A four-term incumbent of the Athol Board of Selectmen, he is proud of the strides the town has made in the past 12 years and he hopes voters re-elect him to another three-year stint.

“I’d like to continue with the progressive attitude of the town of Athol and also the board that’s serving now,” he said. “I think we all have committed to being progressive. … We have really accomplished a lot in the last 12 years.”

Brighenti said he decided to run for the board because he knew the town needed a state-of-the-art police station, which was completed nine or 10 years ago. He said the town now also boasts a new school, new senior center, new library and a shopping plaza that hosts a Market Basket supermarket.

“If it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” he said about the Board of Selectmen’s current makeup.

Brighenti said he was born and raised in Athol, graduating from Athol High School in 1962. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps and got married when he returned to Athol. He then served as an environmental police officer for 28 years.

“When I got the job, I died and went to heaven,” he said, “because it was always something I wanted to do.”

He said all of his children and grandchildren have gone through the Athol public school system.