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Photo Vincent Guadazno
Selectman Lynne Davies will not seek re-election citing lack of cooperation and conflict on the board. |
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Davies won’t run again, cites polarizing politics
By Pru Sowers
Banner Staff
PROVINCETOWN — A long list of candidates has returned papers to run for selectman this May. However, one of the two incumbents up for reelection, Lynne Davies, will not be among them.
Davies said Tuesday she decided not to stand for reelection because of the negative politics she believes have tainted the board of selectmen, creating different agendas that have polarized the board.
“I’m used to playing on a team that works together on common goals. We don’t have that,” Davies said. “Everyone has their own agenda rather than an agenda of what’s best for the town. A few [selectmen] talk and conspire and try to push the rest of us.”
Selectman Michele Couture, who has returned papers to run for a third term as selectman, said she disagreed with Davies’ assessment and that the board is striving for “a common good.”
“I have no idea of what she’s referring to. We have disagreements but that’s not a bad thing. Politics is a contact sport. Sometimes we’re a little testy. But that’s the nature of the beast,” Couture responded. “Yes, I have goals that I definitely want to see passed and one is affordable housing. As long as I am on this board, I will push that as an agenda.”
Other candidates throwing their hat into the selectmen’s ring are Elaine Anderson, current chair of the community preservation committee and co-chair of the conservation commission; George Bryant, a former Provincetown selectman and current member of the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates; David Cleveland, who ran for selectman in Truro last year but has since moved to Provincetown; and Bryan Green, current chair of the Provincetown Housing Authority.
Davies, who was elected selectman last May to fill the one year remaining in former selectman Sarah Peake’s term, said she “wrestled long and hard” with the decision on whether to run again. In the end, she said she believes she can be more effective serving on other town boards.
While not naming any specific selectmen, Davies said current board members appear to have their pet projects and will not listen to discussion or questions from their colleagues. She mentioned several issues that she said some of her fellow board members have been intractable on, including reorganizing the school system, affordable housing and future expansion of the municipal sewer system.
“There is no listening. There are stubborn streaks across the board. You need to be open-minded to be a selectman and right now, that’s not there,” Davies said, adding, “We have no mission. We have no direction of where we want to be in five years. I spent more time doing battle than doing good.”
In other races, Peter Grosso is running unopposed for reelection to the school committee. On the board of library trustees, Edward “Mick” Rudd and Paul Benatti are running unopposed for reelection.
No candidates stepped forward to run for the four open positions on the charter enforcement commission. And on the housing authority, incumbent Cathy Reno Brouillet is the only candidate running for one of two open positions on that board.
The town election will take place May 6.
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Mar 20th, 2008