Town election dates set
By Caitlyn Kelleher Journal Reporter

Interim Town Clerk Linda Ramsdell has set the dates for the upcoming town elections including the town caucus.

Ten town seats will be up for election including those of Selectman Jonathan Dennehy, Ramsdell and Planning Board members John MacMillan and Thomas Ruble.

The annual election is scheduled for April 24. A town caucus to nominate candidates is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. The caucus will be held in the Town Hall basement.

Anyone not nominated at the town caucus can submit nomination papers by March 9 at 5 p.m.

Dennehy has decided he will seek reelection in April. Dennehy first ran three years ago for the seat vacated by Mary Coswell.

"I know it sounds cliché but I am really passionate about doing what I do for the town," he said. "The work that I set out to do isn't done yet. The only way to make sure that I continue along the path that I started is to go for another term. … I think we have done quite a bit in three years in Asburnham. The next three years are going to be as busy and as important."

One of Dennehy's biggest issues is going to be to encourage the state to give more money back to the town through state aid funding and school funding.

"Every extra dollar the state sends back to us is one less dollar we have to raise in property taxes," Dennehy said. "The state is not sending us enough money."

Ramsdell, who was appointed town clerk this fall when long-time Town Clerk Wesley Landry retired, has decided to run for a three-year term. She has served as the assistant town clerk for 20 years.

"It's a customer service job," she said. "You are helping people in all types of ways."

She is running for a three year term.

Also up for re-election are moderator David Uminski, Board of Health members Glenn Hathaway and Scott Sibley, Library Trustees Peter Anderegg and Diane Carreiro. George Ainsleigh's term on the Municipal Light Board also ends this year.