ADAMS, Mass. — Selectman candidate Cassie Witek promises that if elected, she will represent the people.
"We have voted for prominent politicians in town and how well did that work out?" Witek said. "With me, it is going to be the people first every single time."
Witek said she has lived in Adams her entire life and feels she can bring a fresh perspective to the board.
"I know what it's like to be poor and I know what it is like to be able to work magic and rub two pennies together and make it into a dollar," she said. "I know what it's like to have to choose between buying food or medication…I understand the people of the town and their concerns because I am one of them."
Witek, a former emergency medical technician with the Adams Ambulance Service, said she left the service after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She said she has battled the disease with determination and plans to do the same to help revive the Adams economy.
"I have lived here my entire life, and I have watched the death of our town and the death of the downtown," she said. "We have this recession and everyone else seems to bounce back but why can’t we get anything to stick?"
Witek said she is also concerned about the school district and she supports regionalization whenever possible. She said she and would also advocate for a medical marijuana dispensary in town.
She added that she has concerns about accountability within the current town government and would like to bring back the tax oversight committee.
"Everybody says the same thing 'where is the town going?' because we don't see it but our tax rate keeps going up and up," Witek said. "We don't see any return on it."
She added that she wants to find a tenant for the Memorial Building, perhaps a college satellite facility, and wants the Greylock Glen to become a place that the entire community can enjoy.
Witek will vie for the seat being left open by current Chairman James Snoonian against Elizabeth Bushey and Christine Hoyt.
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Adams Sees No Races So Far
By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — With less than a week left before nomination papers are due, there are currently no contested seats.
Only selectman incumbent John Duval has returned papers. Selectman Howard Rosenberg has decided not to seek re-election.
Rosenberg, who was elected in 2021, said he has chosen not to run again to make room for younger candidates.
"I feel strongly, we need younger people running for public office, as the future of our town lies within the younger generation. The world is so fundamentally different today and rapidly changing to become even more so. I believe we need people who are less interested in trying to bring back the past, then in paving the way for a promising future. The younger generation can know that they can stay here and have a voice without having to leave for opportunities elsewhere," he said.
The only person to return papers so far is former member the board Donald Sommer. Sommer served as a selectman from 2007 to 2010 and before that was a member of the School Committee and the Redevelopment Authority. He ran unsuccessfully for selectman in 2019 and again in 2021 but dropped out of before the election.
Incumbent Moderator Myra Wilk and Town Clerk Haley Meczywor have returned papers for their respective positions.
Assessor Paula Wheeler has returned papers and incumbents James Loughman and Eugene Michalenko have returned papers for library trustees.
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