By Sharron Luttrell

Candidates for elected office introduced themselves and fielded questions at a forum hosted by the Mendon Brothers of the Brush Thursday night.

Brothers of the Brush member Dick Ferrucci served as event moderator.

Eight of the 13 candidates on the ballot appeared at the event. Here are the highlights.

Thomas Merolli, Town Moderator (one-year term)

Merolli, who has been elected to the position of town moderator every year since 2021, emphasized his commitment to making Town Meeting accessible. This includes implementing electronic voting devices and holding warrant walk-throughs before Town Meeting.  

“Town Meeting isn’t just a meeting. It’s the legislative body of the town. Town Meeting is our Congress. Instead of having representatives, you’re your own legislator. That’s why it’s so important to make sure it’s accessible and make sure we get as many people out to these as possible so we have a true representation of what the town wants.”

Jason Kuter, Select Board (three-year term)

Kuter is finishing up his first term on the board and is its current chair. Reflecting on the past year, he said he was heartened by both the turnout and tone at meetings where the board discussed the Providence Street culvert replacement project and the budget.

“We were able to fill this room multiple times in the last months with people who wanted to say something,” he said. “I think this year the dialogue changed a lot. Those were pleasant meetings … those were meetings where people came up and gave their concerns and the board sat and listened. I think that is the best outcome in these democratic situations.”

When Ferrucci asked Kuter whether the five-member Select Board “works,” Kuter answered that increasing the board from three has made it more flexible and efficient. He cited as an example that members were able to work in pairs on a policy change outside of posted meetings without violating public meeting laws. That wouldn’t have been possible with a three-member board, which formed a quorum with two members.

Brian Morford, Select Board (three-year term)

This is Morford’s first time running for office in Mendon. A former Naval officer, Morford said his desire to be of “service to something bigger than yourself” is behind his interest in the position.

“It’s so rewarding and so important for each of us wherever we can and in any way we can to serve our community and our country and give back,” he said.

Morford will replace Michael Goddard, who is not running for reelection.

Morford told the audience that he’s impressed by the working relationship among the board members and is looking forward to contributing to it. When asked about the board’s decision to maintain one-way traffic on Cemetery Street during the Providence Street culvert replacement project, Morford said he would have voted the same way, but is open to revisiting the issue if the project is delayed past this fall.

“Not that the original decision was taken too lightly, because I don’t think that was the case. But because of the passion that it engendered, it’s worth another look,” he said.

Sean Nicholson, School Committee (three-year term)

Nicholson has served three terms on the School Committee.

Nicholson started off by listing some of the district’s accomplishments over the past three years, including its recovery from setbacks due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“The thing I think I’m most impressed about with the school this year is our recovery from 2022,” he said.

Chronic absenteeism has declined to 13% from the “20% range,” math scores are bouncing back and behavioral problems have decreased, he said. Students are achieving “very high” AP SAT, ACT and MCAS test scores; music, drama and DECA students have placed this year in state and national competitions; the district won $900,000 in grant funding this year, and more than four times as many students come into the district from elsewhere than leave it, Nicholson said.

“We’ve got a surplus of 135 families who have chosen to be part of our school district because they’re very attracted to it. That says something about what we’re trying to do,” he said.

In response to a question about the Proposition 2½ override request, Nicholson said the schools might have been able to get by for the next year or two if not for the unexpected 30% increase in health insurance and costly out-of-district special education placements.

A “structural deficit” in state funding makes it impossible for schools to keep up with inflation and absorb unexpected costs within the 2 ½ levy limit, he said.

Steven Aubut, Parks Department (two-year-term)

Aubut calls himself “a serial volunteer.” “I volunteer for everything. I volunteer for scouts, for soccer, town cleanup —pretty much anytime someone asks me to volunteer, I volunteer,” he said. “So when the vacancy showed up, I said, why not? I’ll do it.”

When asked whether he’d like to see more fields in town, Aubut said additional fields would ease the demand for playing space, but is something that would have to be decided with town-wide input.

Aubut, a regular pickleball player, said he’d like to see an indoor “pickleball night” during the winter, and overall, would like to see more people participate in Parks Department programs, including town cleanup.

Joanne Lamothe, Parks Department (three-year term)

Lamothe, a member of the Mendon Cultural Council and the General Bylaw Committee, called herself a “parks child,” who spent her youth using her town’s parks and recreation program.

“I felt it was time for me to sit on a committee to give back for what I enjoyed as a youth,” she said.

She said she’d like to see the Parks Department offer winter activities such as sled racing and snowshoeing. She’d also like to see the Parks Department team up with other groups in town for events and activities.

Through the Cultural Council, Lamothe is organizing town festivities for Aug. 2, including a mock signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Francis Niro, Planning Board (five-year term)

Niro, a local attorney with a focus on real estate and financing, was appointed last year to finish out the Planning Board term of the late William Ambrosino.

“Although I may not be able to fill the big shoes Bill left, I hope to follow in those footsteps,” Niro said.

He said his goal on the board is to balance the interests of the town and property owners with a thoughtful, fair and reasonable approach.

“We want to preserve the character of the town without restricting reasonable use of someone’s land,” he said.

When asked how the Planning Board can enhance the town’s infrastructure to attract commercial development, Niro pointed out that the board’s scope is limited, but said he supports planning for future growth by improving infrastructure.

James Thach, Taft Library Board of Trustees (three-year term)

Thach ran for his first term on the Taft Library Board of Trustees three years ago as he was closing out his career as a Coast Guardsman.

“Once I finished up my career on the Coast Guard side, I really started focusing on small-town politics and what we can do as individuals to help the town,” he said.

As someone with dyslexia who is “not good at reading,” Thach acknowledged it may seem ironic that he’s a library trustee, until you consider what the library offers to people of all abilities and interests.

“We have a very unique library in our town. It is a truly safe place for people to come and learn and explore and grow … it’s a kind of warm, opening environment. It’s comforting and to me that’s special,” he said.

During his time as a library trustee, Thach has sat on the Taft Library Rectory Subcommittee and the Mendon Capital Planning Committee and has developed an emergency plan for the library.

Mendon Commons has distributed questionnaires to each candidate and will publish their responses in the days leading up to the May 19 town election.