We want to congratulate Board of Selectman candidate David Karr for his run for office. A relative unknown just a month before we went to the polls, he garnered a good showing in the election. Though he didn't win a seat, his run made some vital impacts on our local landscape.
First, Karr made this a contested race. If he hadn't become a candidate at virtually the last minute, we would have had a BOS for the next year that was "elected" 100% in uncontested races. Surely a road to complacency and sub-optimal performance.
Second, Karr helped push a lack of government openness into the spotlight -- a topic dear to this blog. Following the League of Women Voters' Forum before the vote occurred, the BOS suddenly decided they DID want to address this "surprising" topic and maybe take a look at hearing more from citizens. Widespread cases of whiplash broke out in those standing nearby, such an abrupt turn-around it was from their previous position of very limited input from citizens during their meetings. While their current position of Saturday-only input (as opposed to during their regular meetings) is itself a very meager choice, it is at least a start at recognizing there is a real problem.
Third, Karr received just a hair short of 1000 votes from 2644 voters -- nearly 40% of voters gave him a vote (do recall that this was a vote-for-two election). And he was in a near-three-way-tie in Precinct 2, West Concord. This was a powerful showing of support -- particularly in West Concord where it may have particularly demonstrated that a good portion of the voters are not happy with the status quo.
While Karr's start was slow, and his campaigning presence was raw at the beginning, his level of engagement and learning over a very short period of time was nothing short of astonishing. He showed that he is truly a fast study of epic proportions. As his supporters maintained, his talents were a replacement for experience on a Town committee; his very campaign was proof positive of that assertion.
Afterwards, Karr stated, "This is not the same town it was before this election began, and I'm not the same man." We would have to agree on both counts.
(Link to the Karr campaign website; link to election results)
First, Karr made this a contested race. If he hadn't become a candidate at virtually the last minute, we would have had a BOS for the next year that was "elected" 100% in uncontested races. Surely a road to complacency and sub-optimal performance.Second, Karr helped push a lack of government openness into the spotlight -- a topic dear to this blog. Following the League of Women Voters' Forum before the vote occurred, the BOS suddenly decided they DID want to address this "surprising" topic and maybe take a look at hearing more from citizens. Widespread cases of whiplash broke out in those standing nearby, such an abrupt turn-around it was from their previous position of very limited input from citizens during their meetings. While their current position of Saturday-only input (as opposed to during their regular meetings) is itself a very meager choice, it is at least a start at recognizing there is a real problem.
Third, Karr received just a hair short of 1000 votes from 2644 voters -- nearly 40% of voters gave him a vote (do recall that this was a vote-for-two election). And he was in a near-three-way-tie in Precinct 2, West Concord. This was a powerful showing of support -- particularly in West Concord where it may have particularly demonstrated that a good portion of the voters are not happy with the status quo.
While Karr's start was slow, and his campaigning presence was raw at the beginning, his level of engagement and learning over a very short period of time was nothing short of astonishing. He showed that he is truly a fast study of epic proportions. As his supporters maintained, his talents were a replacement for experience on a Town committee; his very campaign was proof positive of that assertion.
Afterwards, Karr stated, "This is not the same town it was before this election began, and I'm not the same man." We would have to agree on both counts.
(Link to the Karr campaign website; link to election results)
