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Ashe has yet to resign from Select Board

Date: 1/12/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



LONGMEADOW Brian Ashe was sworn in as the State Representative for Second Hampden District on Jan. 7 in Boston, but according to Robert Barkett, vice-chair for the town's Select Board, Ashe has yet to turn in a resignation letter.

Ashe, a three-term Select Board member, said during his campaign for Rep. Mary Rogeness' seat that "[h]aving a full time job as well as serving on the board sometimes makes it difficult to do everything that I would like to do for the community. As the State Representative in the 2nd Hampden District, I would be able to work full time without having the distraction or time constraints of another job. I would be a full time State Representative."

"He could technically keep both seats," Barkett told Reminder Publications.

Ashe's term on the Select Board was to end in 2010, so once he officially resigns, the board must decide whether to leave his seat vacant until the town elections on June 9 or hold a special election to vote someone into the vacated seat.

Barkett explained that the Select Board has the ability to call for a special election up to 100 days before the town's general elections. This means the board can call for a special election until the end of February.

"Once Brian submits a written letter to the Select Board, we will have a discussion about what to do," Select Board chair Paul Santaniello said.

Santaniello is personally in favor of incorporating the voting for the vacant Select Board seat with the town election in June.

Ashe's last meeting with the Select Board took place on Jan. 5.