Q & A with Don Wakoluk, Candidate for Shutesbury Select Board

Courtesy of Clipart Library

According to Shutesbury.org, “Boards of selectmen have general supervision over all matters that are not specifically delegated by law, or by vote of the town, to another office of board.” The Select Board is answerable only to the voters of Shutesbury.

The Select Board is an elected position, with a term of three years. Each year, one of those positions comes up for election/re-election. This year, Melissa Makepeace-O’Neil is running for re-election and Donald Wakoluk is running against her as a newcomer.

I reached out to both candidates with a request for a question-and-answer-style interview. Incumbent Melissa Makepeace-O’Neil did not respond. Here is what Donald Wakoluk had to say. 

                                                         

1. Why are you running for the Shutesbury Select Board?  What do you hope to accomplish?

After AMP met with town hall and pro solar farm statements were published on the town webpage, I felt that elected and unelected officials had become tainted by the interaction. No Notice of Intent had been filed regarding Solar Farms and these comments from town officials were a violation of trust in our boards and bylaws. I ran as a write-in last year and decided to run on the ballot this year. The false rumors of large sums of money from AMP have divided the town. As an ex-Army officer trained in democratic, inclusive leadership, I feel it is my duty to offer hope to ALL residents and welcome them to participate in running town hall.

2.  What do you see as the major issue/issues facing Shutesbury today? Ten years from now?

A lack of inclusive leadership, an unwillingness by elected officials to hold public discussions of divisive issues other than under the constraints of board meetings conducted via zoom, an absence of seeking consensus from residents who are not board members, and unrepresentative government. Climate change over the next decade will force the town to seek cooperation with nearby towns to develop environmental and economic solutions to its effects.

3. What do you believe Shutesbury residents value the most about their community?

We are a rural town of forests, wetlands, and pastures. A dirt Road-town, punctuated by intentional villages sharing a common vision, independent from surrounding cities. We have created the jobs and economic opportunities found at the ends of our dirt roads. I think we are the embodiment of Daniel Shays's social democracy.

4. Where do you see Shutesbury in 3 years? 10 years?

In the short term, at the crossroads of a new green economy. Where our homes become energy-independent hubs of rural innovation, residents who are examples of self-reliance and higher education creating uniquely skilled labor. In ten years, we’ll become the foundation of environmental resilience that will lead the world in surviving the ravages of global warming.  

5. Do you support economic diversity among Shutesbury residents?

I fear the divisiveness we currently tolerate will lead to ever more have-nots ruled by a privileged few. Only an inclusive representative government will build a town of equals. 

6. At the FinCom meeting of April 5, 2022, the Town Administrator (TA) accused you, as Tree Warden, of not doing your job because there was very little money spent from that position's expense account. Will you elaborate on this incident? I believe you were at the meeting earlier on behalf of the Conservation Committee but had left before this issue was raised.

I didn’t vote for the TA, the DeFacto mayor, no one did, I wasn’t aware it was a job for life. I have saved the town thousands of dollars by convincing National Grid to remove hazard trees and not spending the expense account. That’s called leadership and thankfully will pay for the removal of the current hazard trees at the fire station. In my opinion, the leaders we’ve placed in town hall have been the cause of every divisive issue this town has faced over the last decade due to poor decision sharing. 

Dr. Seuss' The Lorax - Theatrical Trailer

Shutesbury Annual Town Meeting, May 21, behind town hall, promises to be very exciting this year. In addition to the contested Select Board seat, voters will be weighing in on a slew of new property tax exemptions, a revamped Town Buildings Committee charge, the replacement of the asphalt roof on the elementary school, and–this is a biggie–whether or not to fund the construction of a new library building. 

Please attend and make your voice heard! Every vote counts!