CHARLEMONT — The three candidates vying for two Selectboard seats made their appeals to the public on Wednesday evening in a lightly attended meet-and-greet at Hawlemont Regional School.

Robert Handsaker and William Harker are competing for the opportunity to serve the five months remaining for the term vacated by Marguerite Willis, and Jared Bellows is running unopposed to fulfill the year and a half left for the term Dan Girard stepped down from. Willis and Girard submitted letters in November to announce their plans to resign on Dec. 30, although Girard ultimately stayed through this week’s Selectboard meeting. A special election has been scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 10.

Nine people, not including Town Administrator Sarah Reynolds, convened in the school’s gymnasium at 6 p.m. to hear from the three men on the ballot. Selectboard member Valentine Reid served as facilitator, as it would have been a conflict of interest to have Handsaker, the town’s moderator, running the event. Reid flipped a penny to determine whether Handsaker or Harker — the candidates in the election’s lone contested race — would speak first. Handsaker was given the microphone after the penny landed on tails.

Robert Handsaker

Handsaker, 62, said he and his wife moved to Charlemont about 31 years ago and raised their children in the town.

“Shortly after we moved here I decided to get involved in town government,” he explained.

Handsaker was the town’s representative to the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District and was eventually appointed to the Conservation Commission. He also serves as chair of the Broadband Committee. For the past four or five years, he has been in charge of building the town’s broadband network.

“And I found this really satisfying, actually,” he said. “I’m really happy to say that we built this $3.3 million network and it’s up and running. Seventy percent of the town is signed up.”

Handsaker said the process was not without its challenges, but the town made it through “with a whole team effort” that included the Highway Department, Police Department and Conservation Commission.

“So I’m running for Selectboard because I think there’s some challenges that the town is facing today, and I think I bring some skills to the table that I think might be helpful,” Handsaker said, adding that he is good with numbers. “I’m good at listening to different sides to try to understand what it is people want to have happen, try to find common ground and practical solutions to get to our joint goals.”

Handsaker noted he was considering running in the general election in the spring and still plans to be a candidate even if he doesn’t win this special election.

William Harker

Harker, 86, told attendees his family moved to town during World War II and he has served on several boards and committees in his adult life.

“I came here in 1944,” he said. “I know the town well.”

Harker said he is a longtime contractor and has previously served on the Conservation Commission and the Selectboard.

“And I was asked to run again because of my knowledge and all the things I’ve done for the town of Charlemont, and I’m still doing things for the town of Charlemont,” he said.

Harker was open about the fact that if elected he will only serve the remaining five months of the term vacated by Willis. He said he would like to get Town Hall painted and increase the safety and plowing of the sidewalk near Hawlemont Regional School.

Harker and Handsaker met when they served together on the Conservation Commission and they spoke highly of each other.

“I just want to say Bill is a great guy,” Handsaker noted. “I count Bill as a friend, and I’ll say Bill is a wonderful person. In particular, I think he’s very generous with his time and with his wisdom, and among those traits I really appreciate is that he’s always willing to roll up his sleeves and get to work on things.”

Harker mentioned he has worked well with Handsaker and echoed the latter’s sentiment of teamwork.

“I’m not here fighting nobody, I’m just here to represent you people,” he said.

Jared Bellows

Bellows, 44, explained he retired last year as the town’s police chief and is ready to serve on the Selectboard.

“I know everybody that works in the Town Hall and I know most of the people in town, and I want to represent you and I want to hear what you have to say,” Bellows said. “One thing that 20-something years on the Police Department did is it gave me an ability to listen and understand what people are saying. I think I can do that.”

Polls will be open from noon to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at Hawlemont Regional School.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or
413-930-4120.

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