The 2014 campaign season got underway in earnest this past week end as two candidates, one running for re-election to the Board of Selectmen and one for Planning Board, kicked off their efforts with Meet & Greets to recruit support and introduce themselves to voters.

Tom Hurley, running unopposed at the moment to retain his seat on the Board of Selectmen, hosted a well attended event at the Milton Hoosic Club yesterday afternoon. On Saturday newcomer Bryan Furze, a candidate for Planning Board, stepped into the political spotlight at an event hosted at the home of Cheryl and George Tougias. They have one thing in common along with Town Treasurer candidate Jim McAulliffe: they are the only 3 candidates running for town wide office who have returned their nomination papers to town hall and been certified by the Town Clerk.

Hurley is a political testament to the ties that bind. He was introduced at yesterday’s event by Barbara Martin a fellow classmate of Tom’s in the MHS class of 1969. There were fellow classmates in attendance. Ms. Martin characterized the class as “a very special group of people who are always there for one another.” Hurley thanked Ms. Martin and the other members of his campaign committee. He recounted how Jim Mullen, long time Town Clerk and past Selectman, had encouraged him to run but was clear that it would be a lot of work. “I didn’t know how much ‘a lot’ really meant.” He does now and is hopeful to be back  in a selectman’s chair to continue the work.

“There is only one reason to run – you love and respect the residents. That is why I ran 3 years ago and that is why I am running today.”

— Tom Hurley

 

 

Bryan Furze, currently chair of the Granite Avenue Park and Ride Committee, spoke to ~35 residents who had come to meet him. Furze said he has come to love the community in the time that he has been here. A real estate development professional, Furze in learning about the community he noted there were a few things missing. He said in his experience development is successful in communities that know what they want and in which there is a process in place that enables communities to be partners rather than adversaries.

“A good planning board needs a good plan.”

— Bryan Furze