HARTFORD — Two incumbents and one newcomer are competing to fill two two-year seats on the Selectboard in March 3 elections.
Incumbents Ashley Andreas and Tim Fariel, each of whom was elected to fill out a partial term in the last year, and challenger Janet Sharkey Potter are vying for the seats.
In uncontested races, Mike Eigenbrode is running to fill a three-year seat on the Selectboard and Daniel Schapira is running for a two-year School Board term. No candidates signed up to fill a second three-year seat on the Hartford School Board.
More information about candidates running for uncontested races is available in an online voter guide prepared by Hartford’s Town & School Meeting Committee.
Ashley Andreas
Andreas, 33, is the executive director of Upper Valley Habitat for Humanity and was elected last March to fill out the final year of an open two-year Selectboard seat.
In her first year, Andreas has focused on learning how Hartford’s government works.
She has made herself “really available to residents who want to talk, who are frustrated and I feel that I’ve had a lot of understanding with those folks.”
Andreas’ biggest priority if reelected to the Selectboard would be “addressing community safety” through efforts beyond policing. She is especially interested in rebuilding community trust in the Hartford Police Department and Public Safety Coalition, especially the community outreach division. The division was rocked by controversy this fall when its former leader was stripped of his law enforcement certification over sexual harassment allegations.
“I think that we have a lot of challenges with the housing crisis, with the mental health crisis, with the addiction crisis in our community that’s really public facing and we have a lot of people who need services,” Andreas said. “I really want to avoid having a town that just increases policing instead of increasing accountability and services.”
During her tenure on the board, Andreas has been a vocal proponent of restoring Hartford’s curbside recycling program. One of her earliest priorities if reelected would be to create a standing committee to address solid waste disposal in Hartford.
Tim Fariel
Fariel, 62, was appointed to the board in August. Fariel, who has a background in facilities management, said he originally joined the board “trying to be a better listener.”
If he is reelected, Fariel would like to continue improving communication between the Selectboard and Hartford residents and to refine the town’s budget process.
Over the past year, the Selectboard has held community outreach events around Hartford’s villages which Fariel said were “a good first effort.” Going forward, he is interested in scheduling community conversations with specific topics in mind, such as resident concerns around affordable housing and nonprofits in Hartford.
Trying to address broad hot button issues during a regular Selectboard meeting “just gets awkward and doesn’t translate very well,” Fariel said.
He would also like to make some changes to the budget process where he said there is “always room for improvement.” One option would be starting the budget process from the “revenue side,” deciding on an ideal tax rate and how much money that would give the town to spend and then thinking about how to use those funds.
Janet Sharkey Potter
Sharkey Potter, 45, is a student assistance counselor at Hartford Memorial Middle School and clinical supervisor at Second Growth, a Wilder nonprofit that works to reduce substance misuse in teens. She grew up in Sharon and moved to Hartford in 1996 and has never held an elected office before.
Sharkey Potter has grown increasingly concerned about safety in Hartford, the burden from a growing number of nonprofits, and with the Selectboard making decisions that she said go against the will of the taxpayers or that she feels are out of its purview.
The candidate, who said she has never worked for a for-profit company, supports Hartford nonprofits such as Twin Pines, the Upper Valley Haven and Northern Stage, but said that other Upper Valley towns should contribute funds to Hartford to help cover the “hidden cost” of having many tax-exempt organizations and properties in town.
“We are not sustainable where we’re at with the number of nonprofits,” Sharkey Potter said. “And I’m not saying to get rid of nonprofits. I think we need to negotiate with other towns to carry their fair share of the tax burden that puts upon us.”
Sharkey Potter said she would also like to address safety in Hartford which is experiencing “both a mental health and substance misuse crisis.” As a licensed substance use counselor and mental health clinician, she has important insight to add to the ongoing conversation and would like to see the Selectboard continue to support the Hartford Police Department.
Should she be elected, Sharkey Potter plans to be an open listener and wants to see the Selectboard respect residents’ desires. In instances such as terminating curbside recycling and installing parking meters in downtown White River Junction, she said the board has gone against the will of voters.
“That’s who I’m working for as a Selectboard” member, Sharkey Potter said.
Town Meeting will be held on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. at the Hartford High School auditorium, 37 Highland Ave. Voting on officers, budget, expenditures and the anti-apartheid pledge will be by Australian ballot on Tuesday, March 3 at the Hartford High School gymnasium from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.