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| EAST LONGMEADOW Last Wednesday, Board of Selectmen chairman John M. Claffey announced that he will not seek re-election to the Board in April. Claffey cited family and professional responsibilities as the motivating factor in reaching his decision. "The events of April 2004, when my wife, Barbara, suffered a life-threatening illness, caused me to reassess life's priorities," Claffey said in a release to the local media. "At that time, I was unsure if I would be able to continue my service to the town. After discussing this with my family, we decided that I should fulfill my commitment, and serve the remainder of my three-year term on the Board of Selectmen. We are blessed that Barbara has made such a remarkable recovery. Now, family responsibilities must take precedence over those responsibilities to my town." In addition, Claffey said professional opportunities as a member of the faculty at Western New England College (WNEC), and as an attorney, have caused him to reasses his ability to renew his commitment to the town of East Longmeadow. "Some exciting career opportunities have presented themselves to me," he said. "These are opportunities that I feel I must pursue." Claffey told The Reminder that one such opportunity through his work as a WNEC professor is writing a criminal law supplement for a national publisher, who he could not name because a contract had not yet been signed. "Opportunities like that have presented themselves," he added. He said he has already begun work on the aforementioned project. Claffey's term will expire in April. "I am honored to have had the opportunity to serve this community bot h as a member of the Conservation Commission and the Board of Selectment," he said. He cited the hiring of a new police chief, and seeing the town through three extremely challenging budgetary cycles among the accomplishments in which he takes pride. "We have been forced to make some difficult decisions in the past three years," he added. "I am certain each of those decisions was made with the best interests of the town at heart. "The selfless contributions made by elected and appointed officials in this town should be a source of pride to this community," he continued. "I do hope that, at some time in the future, I can again make an active contribution to this town." ~ With additional reporting by Sarah M. Corigliano |