HATFIELD — Both candidates competing for a three-year seat on the Select Board at Tuesday’s town election say they will focus on looking out for the future of the town and the welfare of Hatfield’s residents.
Jason Yagodzinski of Dwight Street, a lifelong resident and retired state police trooper who served two Army combat tours, and Julia Frisby of Old Farms Road, a 20-year resident who has an MBA and is a strategic decision-maker at her company, are running to fill the seat held by Greg Gagnon, who opted against seeking a second, three-year term.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Memorial Town Hall.
Julia Frisby
Frisby, who grew up on Cape Cod, said Hatfield has a lot to celebrate and she wants to be part of its bright future. She bought her home in town in 2011, her daughter is in the public school system and she has been part of the school’s PTA.
“I feel qualified and I feel involved and I want to help use my time to invest in our local community,” Frisby said in a candidate’s statement posted by HatfieldCommunity TV.
With a campaign focused on a “happy, heartful Hatfield” and being a self-described mid-career mother, Frisby has served on the Comprehensive Plan Committee, also known as Hatfield 2040, and is chairing a successor committee to implement this work.
Some of the decisions will influence where the town goes, from understanding flood zone impacts on town center and climate change on farmers, possible zoning changes and where housing is needed and could be built.
“There’s a lot of issues that require a very careful balance, there’s a lot of things we need to protect and areas where we need to grow,” Frisby said. “We need housing but we also want to preserve our beautiful, bucolic views.”
In fact, housing is tied into the efforts to preserve local education. The town’s housing shortage, she said, makes it harder to bring young families to Hatfield, but she noted in an interview with Smith Academy government students that the schools have remained attractive to school-choice families.
Frisby said she would hate to see Hatfield taken over by outside forces, comparing what she saw in her hometown. Still, she is aware of the need to attract and retain business and how the local economy could be more robust.
If elected, communication will be a priority, getting information to residents through a newsletter or apps. Frisby said she has sufficient time to add to her workload, as an efficient multi-tasker.
The town also has a lot of room for improvement in efficiency and she would like to keep goals of the comprehensive plan committee in mind, observing those come from residents and input sessions. She wants people to continue to share their views.
“I also very much love listening, would welcome hearing opinions from everyone in town, whether renters, homeowners, parents, elders, all cross sections, and of course, our wonderful farmers,” Frisby said.
Jason Yagodzinski
Yagodzinski picked cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes at local farms and today four generations of his family continue to call Hatfield home.
“This town isn’t just where I live, it’s who I am,” Yagodzinski said in his candidate’s statement on HadleyCommunity TV.
Yagodzinski is prioritizing standing up for taxpayers and the future of the town and wants to see it thrive.
“I’m running for Select Board because I care deeply about the direction of our town, and I believe I can provide steady leadership that listens, shows up and gets things done,” Yagodzinski said.
Residents are feeling the pressure, especially seniors on fixed incomes, he said, and there’s not enough accountability for where money is going, which is a problem.
“Every dollar the town spends is your dollar. That means no waste, no rubber stamping and no hiding behind bureaucracy,” Yagodzinski said, who promises to ask hard questions and demand answers.
In a conversation with Smith Academy government students, Yagodzinski said it is important to preserve the town’s farmland.
“Environmentally, we want to make sure anything we’re building, we’re doing it safely, using renewables,” Yagodzinski said.
Having an online presence to better communicate with the community and providing access through smartphones is important, he said.
He served 10 years in Army and two combat tours, spent almost 20 years as a local police officer and trooper, and retired due to being injured in the line of duty. Yagodzinski is an active member of the American Legion who currently serving as its sergeant in arms and is the associate director of the Legion Riders.
“We’re at a point where decisions we make today are going to shape the future of this town for years to come,” Yagodzinski said. “We need to protect what makes this community special, while moving forward responsibly.”
Other candidates
There are no other races, but two new members are expected to join the School Committee.
An incumbent, Christy L. Boudreau of Main Street, and newcomer Nancy M. Potvin of Gore Avenue, are running for the two, three-year seats available, while Tanya V. Menz of Bridge Street is running for an open two-year position.
Incumbents are running for the remaining positions. They are Douglas C. Finn of King Street for a five-year term on the Planning Board; James A. Lavallee Sr. of North Hatfield Road for a three-year term on the Board of Assessors; Marsha L. Humphrey of North Street for a three-year term on library trustees; Jonathan W. Bardwell of Main Street for a three-year term on the Cemetery Commission; Timothy J. Menz of Bridge Street for a three-year term on the Board of Health; Alaina E. Wilcox of Nolan Circle for a three-year term as town clerk, and also for a one-year term as elector under the Oliver Smith Will; and Robert E. Betsold of Pantry Road for a three-year term as moderator.
There are no candidates on the ballot for a five-year term on the Housing Authority.
