AMHERST – Amherst voters March 29 will have the opportunity to form the first charter commission to study town government since 2001, with 19 candidates on the town election ballot.
If creating the commission is approved, the nine candidates who receive the most votes will make up the commission that would spend about 18 months reviewing the Select Board, town manager and Town Meeting form of government beforemaking recommendations.
Voters in 2003 and 2005 rejected the last commission’s proposed changes, which would have eliminated Town Meeting in favor of a mayor and town council, but would have preserved the professional town manager.
Here is a summary of comments from the 19 candidates, most of which were received in response to questions sent by email from the Gazette.
Maurianne Adams, 77, 14 Beston St., 43-year resident: Adams said she wants to take into account concerns from different constituencies and to improve the working relationship between Amherst’s executive and legislative branches.
“My bottom line for a successful commission is for it to create a form of government that is democratic, inclusive and represents the range of interests that characterize life in Amherst,” Adams said.
Andy Churchill, 56, 59 Pine St., 21-year resident: Churchill said he is adept at analyzing policy challenges, communicating with the public and finding solutions that can improve opportunities in a 21st-century college town.
“I’ve become convinced that we need a government that can do a better job of connecting the dots — housing, open space, education, economic development, taxation, university partnerships, etc. — to make sure we can preserve Amherst’s quality of life for the long haul,” Churchill said.
Thomas Fricke, 46, 32 Railroad St., 16-year-resident: Fricke said he is open to minor and major reforms, including having more competitive elections, voter engagement and issue analysis, while trying to maintain the access to power that Town Meeting has generated.
“Town government should invite participation from as much of the community as possible, and it should be responsive to the priorities and concerns of the majority,” Fricke said.
Meg Gage, 70, 208 Montague Road, 54-year resident: Gage said she appreciates the town’s culture, beauty, lively neighborhoods and civic engagement, and wants to bring her skills, life experience and knowledge to gauge the pulse of the people.
“In general, I would support changes that increase efficiency while supporting and balancing the interests of different constituencies and interest groups that are sometimes at odds,” Gage said.
Amy Gates, 52, 54 Spaulding St., four-year resident: Gates said she can be a fresh set of eyes and ears with an open mind and is not wedded to a particular agenda, noting her support for change that will keep Amherst from continuing what she sees as its slide into trouble, with high property taxes making the community too expensive for many families.
“I don’t see why the town can’t be brought together to ensure its future health and well-being, and the right attitude of the nine on the commission would go a long way in creating healthy debate,” Gates said.
Frank Gatti, 78, 53 Iduna Lane, 25-year resident: Gatti said he wants to bring people together from all backgrounds who appreciate democracy and to propose changes that would preserve the discussion that Town Meeting helps preserve among diverse groups.
“The most important thing that happens at Town Meeting is not the vote, the most important thing that happens is the conversation,” Gatti said. “We would lose something if we lose Town Meeting.”
Nick Grabbe, 66, 84 Eames Ave, 32-year resident: Grabbe said his observations as a former newspaper editor and reporter show that Town Meeting is both undemocratic and unrepresentative with members who are disproportionately older, white and homeowners, and that 90 percent of registered voters do not participate in local elections. Grabbe retired in 2013 from the Amherst Bulletin and the Daily Hampshire Gazette.
“I think we can do a much better job of having government decisions reflect the will of citizens,” Grabbe said. “I am open-minded about identifying the best form of government for Amherst, but will not settle for the status quo.”
Bob Greeney, 69, 76 McClellan St., 22-year resident: Greeney said he is seeking a seat on the charter commission because it is important to be an active participant and offer thoughts on how government promotes citizen engagement, maintains checks and balances and prevents special-interest groups.
“I value the strong participatory engagement of the people of Amherst, the diversity of ideas and the animated forums of deliberation we create and sustain,” Greeney said.
Mandi Jo Hanneke, 38, 52 Orchard St., five-year resident: Hanneke said she brings a willingness to explore government options, from maintaining the existing Town Meeting to moving to a city council form, and wants to hear all the pros and cons.
“The commission will be successful only if Amherst’s residents know that it seriously looked at all options and proposed the one best suited for today’s Amherst,” Hanneke said.
Phil Jackson, 54, 204 Lincoln Ave., 26-year resident: Jackson said he brings a decade of experience in Town Meeting and on Finance Committee and will fairly and diligently evaluate alternatives to the current government.
“I believe it is time to examine our current form of government, which I feel is outmoded and not well-suited to the demands of 21st-century civic life,” Jackson said.
Bernard Kubiak, 68, 1183 South East St., 18-year resident: Kubiak said he wants to be on a charter commission that will produce a government structure that is open, accessible, responsive and responsible.
“The charter commission offers an opportunity for improving the way Amherst is governed by providing voters with a choice for change or endorsing the status quo,” Kubiak said.
Janet McGowan, 56, 706 South East St., 13-year resident: McGowan said the existing government has helped to make Amherst a great place and is running to identify changes that can strengthen the town, and will solicit views of residents and business owners, and even people outside Amherst.
“I believe this will be a fruitful process and lead to needed change,” McGowan said. “Change is inevitable, although it’s premature to support proposed changes without knowing what they are.”
Jennie McKenna, 68, 277 Middle St., 35-year resident: McKenna said she appreciates both town government and citizen involvement and wants to be supportive of the process by exploring ideas and options for improvements.
“I am hoping to join the commission so I can indeed see what changes could make sense. And those, then, would be the changes I would support,” McKenna said.
Maureen Raab, 576 Main St., 17-year resident: Raab said Amherst is losing working-class professionals, who are not able to live in the community, and others who find the town is not affordable.
“I really think that Amherst needs some kind of accountability,” Raab said. “I don’t know if our system here needs to change so much as we need to put some reform in that will help all citizens of Amherst.”
Irv Rhodes, 74, 173 Pondview Road, 30-year resident: Rhodes said he is invested in all public processes in town and wants to be part of the commission.
“The charter commission gives Amherst the ability to examine, debate, analyze and deeply understand the benefits of our present form of government and to change, modify or continue the status quo,” Rhodes said.
Chris Riddle, 71, 252 Strong St., 45-year resident: Riddle said his interest in improving the current system, exploring options after identifying problems and then looking for solutions.
“While I lean toward trying to improve our Town Meeting-Select Board-manager system, I don’t have preconceptions and am open to other options,” Riddle said.
Julia Rueschemeyer, 50, 165 North Whitney St., 15-year resident: Rueschemeyer said she supports changes that balance the town’s commitment to democracy while improving and strengthening Amherst.
“As Amherst continues to grow and change, I would like this change to be intentional rather than haphazard,” Rueschemeyer said. “We need to invest in our community resources — our schools, community centers, libraries, parks and downtown — in ways that reflect our values.”
Diana Stein, 78, 140 Red Gate Lane, 51-year resident: Stein said she cares deeply about Amherst and the form of governance and prioritizes well-trained individuals as leaders and simpler ways for residents to petition changes.
“I have noticed that we have people that come to Town Meeting with petitions for fixing a problem with the town — crosswalks for example — and can’t recall that happening in Northampton,” Stein said. “We can get that as part of any new charter, and I would like to be there to see that we do.”
Gerry Weiss, 66, 277 Middle St., 35-year resident: Weiss said he wants to be part of a thoughtful discussion on any changes to town government.
“A commission could conceivably create the form of government under which I’ll live for the foreseeable future. If there is going to be a discussion of that magnitude, I want to be a part of it,” Weiss said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
