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Two Eyeing Vacant Adams Selectmen SeatBy Jen Thomas - February 26, 2008
iBerkshires Staff
ADAMS - There's still three weeks before nomination papers are due to the town clerk's office but two men are already in the running for a three-year selectman's seat.
Michael Taber and Jason Hnatonko, two men who have more in common than where they live, have already begun their bids for the seat Myra Wilk vacated last June, resting their campaigns on a promise to help see Adams into the future.
Taber, a seventh-grade history teacher at Herberg Middle School in Pittsfield, said he's always been interested in government and politics and becoming a selectman means giving back to his community.
"I always wanted to run for office. I think it's a way to help people and I think I can bring a new vision and a fresh perspective to the board," said Taber, 27, who moved from Cheshire three years ago. "I've been thinking about doing this for a long time."
Taber said he returned his nomination papers three weeks ago and already has plans to create a campaign committee and host fundraisers before the May 5 election.
"I've got three things I'm focusing on in this campaign - strong economy, safe communities and quality education," Taber said.
Among his priorities for improving the economy are attracting more businesses to the area and creating assisted-living opportunities for the elderly while paying close attention to continuing to improve the downtown area.
"The town has come a long way and I want to be a part of it as it moves forward. There's still a lot we can do. The Selectmen have taken big steps with the Community Development Block Grants but I think the area that is targeted needs to be expanded. There's a lot of positive things we can do by continuing to spruce up the downtown area," he said.
While Taber's safe communities focus is primarily on providing the police and fire departments with the resources they need, education issues are his true passion.
"I'd bring a unique vantage point to the board as a teacher. I have knowledge of the tools necessary for a quality education for students here in town and I would be a good go-between for the School Committee and the Selectmen," said Taber.
With an infant daughter at home, Taber said he has a "vested interest in what happens in the future" and he hopes his presence on the board would help shepherd in a time of growth for Adams, one that embraces new initiatives and concentrates on collaboration among other county municipalities.
"We need a countywide perspective and we need to be part of countywide initiatives like the Berkshire Wireless Initiative," said Taber. "We have to continue to move forward in all aspects."
For Hnatonko, a newborn son sparked his interest in becoming part of town government.
"This sounds cheesy, but I was inspired to run because of my son. I see a tremendous upside to Adams. Growing up, I remember Summer Street having this vibrancy and bounce and it's just now getting that bounce back. I want to make sure it stays that way," said Hnatonko. "I want my son to be proud to grow up in Adams."
"Children are the future. If the children don't have any reason to stay, the town will just dwindle down," he continued.
Hnatonko, 30, has lived in town most of his life and is committed to helping return industry to the area.
"I'm a working man myself and I'm not ashamed of hard work. I'm trying to bring business back into town, businesses that are going to pay people enough so they can support their families," he said.
Chief among his goals is to ensure that taxes in town are not raised.
"I don't want to tax people to death. I couldn't look my mother in the eye and say 'I'm going to raise your taxes when I know you can't afford it' and I certainly can't do that to anyone else's mother. We need to make sure the people here don't have to worry about having the taxes increase every year, especially the elderly," said Hnatonko, who works at Macy's and Rite Aid and as a soccer coach at Hoosac Valley High School.
The self-proclaimed "family man" said he's been a coach in town for many years and it was his interest in giving back to the community that fuels the ambition to run for selectman. Promising he'd make the board one of his top priorities, Hnatonko said he loves living in town and he's only interested in helping to make improvements.
"[Adams] is where I call home and I have some great ideas for making it better," he said. "I've seen it during the best of times and I want to bring it back to the way I remember it. I want to see Park Street and Summer Street alive and kicking."
At the time he was interviewed, Hnatonko had not yet returned his papers.
Nomination papers are due back to the town clerk's office by March 17 and must have 50 signatures from registered voters to be put on the ballot. Nomination papers have already been taken out for other positions, including two parks commissioners, moderator, cemetery commissioner and housing authority member.
All of those papers were taken out by the incumbents. |
| Another year, another slate of unproven and under-qualified candidates. Gone are the days when a prospective board member would have spent a good number of years on other town boards such as finance, zoning, redevelopment authority, etc., to get a feel for the demands and put in ample study so if they do happen to win, they have a clue. It's not about simply having good ideas. You don't apply for a job as a physician without at least visiting a doctors office to see what it entails. Adams has had qualified candidates over the past ten to fifteen years who were professionals in their field and spent inordinate hours in volunteer service. What happened? Adams voted for the other guys (or girl) who may have been more popular or said the right things (empty promises) about taxes and the elderly. What happened to the town? Just look around folks. That's why most people won't serve. The town doesn't do their homework...they don't vote the issues. They vote empty promises and a handshake. Some day Adams will wake up.....today is not the day. | | from: Stuck | on: 03-03-2008 |
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| I wish the candidates luck. They just need to understand that very few voters in Adams pay attention to what's actually going on and what the REAL opportunities are. To win in Adams, all you have to say is that you advocate for schools, you won't raise taxes and you support the elderly. That's it....it's what townspeople want to hear, whether they will admit it or not. Whether you do or not is irrelevant because so few people will actually look for the detail in the proclamations. Adams, without the help or advocacy of the Board of Selectmen, was working on a number of initiatives through volunteer committees that were bearing fruit during the first few years of this decade. It was the elections of 2005-2006 that basically squashed opportunities that were finally bearing down on the town. Why? Empty promises, caviar dreams with little substance and proclamations of support for programs and initiatives the winning candidates had no idea how to manage....so they purged the volunteer groups and let many of the programs die on the vine. I support anyone who supports the town......but, a note to all candidates.....do your homework!!!!! Understand what is going on before you engage and understand that you can cause a great deal of harm by engaging a process and programs you only superficially understand. | | from: Bob D | on: 02-27-2008 |
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