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Date: 4/18/2022
HARDWICK – The official results are in after an uncontested town election took place in Hardwick, on April 11.
Only 67 of the 1,929 registered voters cast their ballots, resulting in a 3.5 percent voter turnout.
One hour after the polls at Hardwick Elementary School closed, Town Clerk Ryan Witkos released the official results.
Kelly Kemp, incumbent, will serve another three-year term as selectman.
Lucinda J. Childs, another incumbent, was re-elected to serve a three-year term as assessor.
Candidate Brian C. Russell was elected to serve as the Gilbertville-Wheelwright Water Pollution Control Facilities Sewer commissioner. This is a three-year term.
Russell said he decided to run for this position because “the town is broken and needs help.” He added that someone asked him to help out, so he decided to run for the uncontested position. “I am hoping that we can help the town with getting grants,” in addition to installing sewer plants and more, said Russell. He predicts that the biggest challenge will be obtaining these necessary grants along with “making sure [we] can repay the loans without having to skyrocket” the residents’ costs. To sum it up, Russell said, “The town needs help with running for departments and I hope to help.”
James D. Swett and Eric W. Vollheim were re-elected to the three-year constable position, along with Witkos.
Jennifer E. Garvey won unopposed for a three-year term as the K-12 Quabbin Regional School Committee member.
Ernest J. Warburton was elected to a three-year term as a Board of Health member. He told Reminder Publishing that he decided to run for this position to “get more involved in town, know what’s going on and have more inside knowledge.” Warburton said he does not yet have an agenda for what he would like to accomplish. As a resident of Hardwick for 15 years, he “feels good” about being elected.
Incumbent Joseph R. Raskett was re-elected to be the Paige Agricultural Fund trustee. This position is the only one that serves a five-year term. The two positions for the Paige Memorial Library trustees were filled by incumbent Vollheim and Edward N. Kelly.
Lastly, John J. Samek was elected to the Planning Board. He will serve a three-year term.
As this was an uncontested race, Witkos said he was not surprised by the low voter turnout. Since becoming clerk in 2020, Witkos has been a part of six elections including primary and state, however, an uncontested race brings out the least amount of people, he noted.
Regardless of the election, Witkos said, “We encourage people to get out and vote.”