Art Campbell | The Groton LineSelectman Fran Dillon's Retirement Opens A Three-Way Contest To Succeed Him
Two political newcomers and one of Groton’s political old hands are running a three-way race for the Selectman’s seat left open by Fran Dillon’s retirement. Erich Garger of Redskin Trail and Jack Petropoulos of Kemp Street are taking on Bob Hargraves, a former selectman and former state representative who now serves on the town Financial Committee. Hargraves ran unsuccessfully in the 2010 Selectman’s race, finishing behind incumbents Josh Degen and Stuart Schulman.
The election will be held on May 22. Except for one one-year Water Commission seat to fill the remainder of an unexpired term, all offices are for three-year terms.
In contrast to the contested field for Selectman, a seat on the Park Commission is open and without candidates. David Howes is leaving the Park Commission when his term expires after the election this spring. In 2011, four candidates ran for two seats on the Park Commission. According to Town Clerk Michael Bouchard, an office without a candidate on the ballot would be filled by the write-in candidate who receives the most votes. If there are no write-ins, the seat would be filled by a joint appointment by the Park Commission and the Board of Selectmen.
Other boards and commissions have a match between openings and candidates seeking those openings. Three Planning Board seats are open. Two are likely to be filled by incumbents Russell Burke of Old Ayer Road and Carolyn Perkins of Reedy Meadow. Tim Svarczkopf, of Champney Street, is the third official candidate. Incumbent Ray Capes is leaving the board.
The Water Commission two openings. Incumbent Gary Hoglund of Duck Pond Road is seeking re-election. A one year opening created by the resignation of Alvin Collins on December 12, 2011. Jessica Cajigas of Orr Road was appointed by the Board of Selectmen to fill Collins’ vacant seat on February 6 and is running for the reminder of his term in this election.
The list of incumbents seeking reelection to their positions and who are running unopposed includes:
- Town Clerk Michael Bouchard
- Groton-Dunstable Regional School Committee members Berta Erickson of Boston Road and Alison Manugian of Shepley Street
- Groton Library Trustees Kristen Von Camp of Lowell Road and Jane Allen of Shattuck Street.
- Board of Assessors member Jenifer Evans of Smith Street
- Board of Health Commissioner Susan Horowitz of Lowell Road
- Commissioner of Trust Funds Joseph Twomey of Martins Pond Road
- Groton Electric Light Commissioner Kevin Lindemer of Boston Road
- Sewer Commissioner Tom Hartnett of Martins Pond Road
- Housing Authority member Alicia Hersey of Old Ayer Road
The retirement of long-time Town Moderator Robert Gosselin opens that office to an unopposed run by Jason Kauppi of Townsend Road.
Jack Petropolous – a thinking man who considers all sides of the question or comment. His posts on the list have always pleased me – kindness, insightful, and he is knowledgeable and well-read. The type of person you would want for a Selectman – somebody who would listen to you
I agree with Pat and he says he has the time. We should grab him before others do who are also looking for an unbiased, thinking worker.
Eric Garger is a great candidate. He’s an average guy, a blue collar worker that can stand up and listen to what the middle class of Groton wants for the town. He’s also a lost lake resident who wants to give the people on lost lake a voice. The lake a has turned into a swamp and for years the town hasn’t done anything to clean it up. As a resident of lost lake it’s frustrating to get my voice heard and I think it would be great to have a selectman that is a lake resident. Plus with all of this crazy happening with the current elected town officials I feel better voting for someone who is an average guy not someone who is influential and may have a hidden agenda.
Hi Amy:
I do understand your frustration at Lost Lake turning into a swamp. I volunteer for the conservation commission and we go out to visit lost lake at least a few times a month to look at another failed septic system that the owners are trying to fix. Once a septic system fails, nutrients from the sewage start leaking out into the lake, which provides a constant source of fertilizer for the plants that grow in the lake, along with the fertilizer that washes off lawns bordering the lake.
It is very hard to improve the plant situation on Lost Lake without improving the overall water quality. Pesticides, cutting and removing the invasive plants taking over the lake is only a short term solution, the weeds will come back year after year as there is plenty of food for them in the water and soil at the bottom of the lake. Long term, the installation of sewers will help improve the water quality, but it will take a long time for those systems to come on line and it will be costly for both the town and residents of Lost Lake. I really feel for folks living there and wish we could do more.
In an ideal world, what would you like the town to do to improve your situation?
I think Josh Degan’s seat will be up for grabs. I see Groton made the headlines in the Lowell Sun Today. Josh Degan is still pouting over Mark Haddard. Stormed out of meeting Monday night slamming doors. I heard the broad wants him to resign because of the touble he is causing in Groton. Sounds like a good idea to me.