Norton Election Has Few, But Important Choices
by Bill Gouveia
This column ran in the Sun Chronicle on Monday, March 18, 2019
Hey Norton — don’t look now, but you have a local election next month that just might actually entice more than a relative handful of voters to cast ballots. And it doesn’t even feature an override, which is about the only time voters have turned out in any great number for a local election in recent years.
by Bill Gouveia
This column ran in the Sun Chronicle on Monday, March 18, 2019
Hey Norton — don’t look now, but you have a local election next month that just might actually entice more than a relative handful of voters to cast ballots. And it doesn’t even feature an override, which is about the only time voters have turned out in any great number for a local election in recent years.
But this exercise in democracy will feature two somewhat unusual things for a community that can never seem to decide what it wants to be when it grows up: An opportunity for citizens to elect a charter commission that would study how to improve local government and an actual contested race for two selectmen seats.
Try and contain your excitement.
But seriously, this is an extremely important election for Norton. Caught in the dreaded “too-small-to-be-big-but-too-big-to-be small” category, this community of about 20,000 residents needs to look closely at its future. This election will be all about leadership, and deciding not only who will provide it — but how. This could well be a turning point for Norton.
Although the existing town charter has been updated over the years, there has not been an elected board charged with looking at the entirety of government since the 1980’s. It is long overdue because without having someone first study the topic, how are Norton voters to know if there is a better way to run their town?
On April 23 they will get that chance. Voters will be asked to say yes or no on forming an elected commission of nine members charged with studying town government from top to bottom. At the same time they will choose those nine people from 11 candidates, though those votes will only be counted if the yes side prevails.
If the commission is formed, it will study town government, hold public hearings, make recommendations and report back to the townspeople. Any actual changes would have to eventually be approved by voters at another town election.
In addition, two longtime incumbent selectmen will have opponents for their seats. Bob Salvo has been a selectmen since the early 2000’s and Bob Kimball is the current Dean of Norton selectmen, having served since the mid 1990’s. They are being opposed by political newcomers Rene Deley and Jack Conway, neither of whom have held elected office before.
Sadly, contested selectmen races have become somewhat unusual over the years in Norton. As the percentage of turnout has dropped at local elections (in non-override years), so has the number of contested races for most offices. There will be no contested race for school committee this year, nor for any of the planning board seats. Openings on the water/sewer commission and the board of assessors attracted no candidates whatsoever.
Here’s hoping the possibility of a charter study and competition for two selectmen seats will draw Norton voters out of their shell this year. Turnout has hovered between 2% to 5% in recent elections and that is disgraceful. Maybe the possibility of positive change coupled with actual competition for leadership positions will bring more people out to vote.
Tuesday, April 23. Mark your calendars, Norton voters. And if you don’t vote — don’t complain.
Bill Gouveia is a local columnist and longtime local official. He can be emailed at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook.
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