Anderson Resigns From Select Board

HARWICH – In a surprise move, Mary E. Anderson, the chair of the Harwich Select Board, resigned from the board last Wednesday. The select board on Monday night decided not to call for a special election to fill Anderson’s unexpired term, which is due to expire on May 21, 2024.

“It is with very bittersweet emotion that I am resigning from the select board effective immediately,” she wrote in an email to Town Clerk Emily Mitchell. “This is not a decision I have made lightly but for personal reasons I find it necessary to take this step.

Anderson said she and her husband are in good health, but at age 74, with a number of friends having experienced health problems, she is reassessing how she wants to spend her time.

“I have never quit anything in my life but at this point I have to do what is best for me. I wish my fellow select board members all the best but mostly I wish all the best for the town of Harwich which we all love. I believe we are in excellent hands with our Town Administrator, Joe Powers, his amazing admin team: Meggan Eldredge, Danlelle Frenier and Carol Campos and the many fine employees that work for the town.”

Anderson said she has found her work on the board to be “pretty much all-consuming, but I thought a vacation would help me; I’d return, I’d be energized and I’d be good to go,” she said. Instead, she came back and was quickly “in the same tailspin.”

The former executive director of the Family Pantry of Cape Cod, Anderson was handily elected to the board in May 2021, and had been serving as chair. Having retired twice, once from the Pantry and once from her previous career at Verizon, Anderson said she knows the time is right.

“I feel I’ve tried to make it a more civil discourse at some of our meetings,” she said. Anderson said she’s confident the board’s important work will continue. “There’s four capable selectmen there, and I’m sure someone else will step in and do just fine.”

She said there are a number of pressing issues she would have liked to continue addressing, “housing being number one, of course.” While she serves on the town’s affordable housing trust, she will be giving up that seat, which is tied to her role as a select board member. At least through the holidays, she has no plans to apply for any other town boards.

“I will get involved in something. I’m not sure what,” Anderson said.

She thanked the voters who lent their support to her candidacy two years ago.

“It was my first time in elected office since student council in high school,” she said. “I appreciate the trust people gave me, and I hope that they feel it was worthwhile.”

Anderson said she’d like to encourage women to run for the select board. “I think we change the dynamic in the room,” she said. “I know young women are busy with jobs and kids and probably parent issues,” she said, but they also have a unique perspective and energy. “I think it’s very healthy” to have female board members, Anderson said. She also offered to meet with any would-be candidate for office to give her views and advice.

On Monday night Anderson was praised by members of the select board for the hard work she performed while serving. Select Board vice chair Julie Kavanagh called Anderson a “great collaborator.” Select Board member Michael MacAskill said he echoed those sentiments, adding for “the time and work she has done she is owed a thank you from everyone.” Select Board member Jeffrey Handler thanked Anderson for her “time and energy.” Select Board member Donald Howell also recognized the amount of work Anderson put into the position, adding “we all appreciate it.”

But there were mixed sentiments on whether to call a special election to fill Anderson’s unexpired term. Mitchell provided the board with a summary of the state statutes defining the ground rules for conducting a special election. If the board voted to call such an election in Monday’s meeting the earliest one could be held would be Jan. 2, 2024.

Citing the March 5, Presidential Primary Election in Massachusetts, the town clerk requested such an election be held no later than January 23, so multiple different elections are not in play simultaneously. Mitchell also put together a cost estimate to conduct a special election for the board to consider. That estimate was $19,117.

“I don’t see the point given the time we’re up against,” MacAskill said.

MacAskill said the election cost would be $20,000, but there would be an additional $5,000 in costs for Department of Public Works services related to setting up the polling facilities. MacAskill said he is against calling for an election.

Handler said he is looking for the value of calling such an election, “it’s not easy to find.” He said a newly elected candidate would serve for only three-and-a-half months. If that person decided to run at the expiration of the term, most of the three-and-a-half months would be spent campaigning for the full term.

“The point of the charter is to have a five member select board,” responded Howell. “I wouldn’t be comfortable without five.”

Howell said when Selectman Robert Peterson passed away there was a similar time frame and a special election was called to fill the unexpired term. There was also a special election held to fill the unexpired term when Selectman Stephen Ford passed away. There were eight months remaining to Ford’s term when that election was held.

Town Administrator Joseph Powers said state statutes allow for 200 registered voters to call for a special election.

Howell offered a positive motion calling for a special election, but that motion did not receive a second. The board will consist of four members until the May 21, 2024 election.