HADLEY — With four candidates vying for one open Select Board seat in Hadley, Jane Nevinsmith was declared the winner with 508 votes after Saturday’s election.
Among her competitors, Brenda Fydenkevez received 355 votes, Amy Parsons 182, and Nicole Bercume 116.
Nevinsmith, 78, has lived in Hadley since 1979 and has past experience in business ownership and working with the town’s senior center. She previously co-owned Stuff it Storage with her spouse, Diane, and ran Jane of All Trades Inc., which provided household-related services. She has worked with the senior center since 2001.
Nevinsmith said said that one issue she intends to focus on is improving communciation between town government and residents.
“One of the things which I found out today was how many people were unaware that the results on the election were posted on the town website at 9 p.m. last night, and they could have looked there to find who won,” Nevinsmith said on Sunday, “so I’m hoping to make the people and the town communicate better. Not that they don’t, but they need to know what’s offered from each side.”
In a previous Gazette interview, Nevinsmith said some of her other goals are to improve infrastructure, create more affordable housing, and keep Hadley an inclusive, progressive community.
Nevinsmith said she decided to run for Select Board after serving as chairwoman of the Senior Center Building Committee — a project wrapping up in the next couple of weeks.
“During that process, I sat at Select Board meetings for the last 18 months … and I was fascinated to see all the things that the town of Hadley does and is involved in, and I thought it would be useful and helpful if I could be part of that.
“And because I’m retired, I have the time to do the background reading and information gathering that’s needed,” she addded.
Nevinsmith said residents may reach out to her at 413-519-7942.
The election also included contested races for Planning Board and Board of Health. For the five-year Planning Board seat, incumbent Joseph Zgrodnik edged out challenger Mark Howard by 608 votes to 514.
In the Board of Health election, challenger Susan Mosler won a three-year seat with 613 votes, while incumbent Richard Tessier received 489.
Voter turnout for the election was 30%.
Jacquelyn Voghel can be reached at jvoghel@gazettenet.com.
