Four in Salisbury on ballot Tuesday for three seats
SALISBURY — Annual town elections are tomorrow, and four local candidates are running for three offices.
Incumbent Selectmen Don Beaulieu and Henry Richenburg are running unopposed for re-election to the two seats on the five-member board they already hold.
In addition, two newcomers, Dale Knowles and Linda Marie Litcofsky, both of Salisbury, are running for one vacant seat on the Triton Regional School Committee representing Salisbury.
Profiles of all four candidates appear below.
Tomorrow's election takes place for both Salisbury districts 1 and 2 at the William Hilton Senior Center from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Hilton Center is located on Lafayette Road, beside the Fire Station.
SELECTMEN (two three-year terms)
Donald W. Beaulieu incumbent
Address: Mudnock Road
E-mail: donald.beaulieu@verizon.net
Age: 63
Education: Graham Junior College 1969
Occupation: Insurance agent/broker
Offices held in local or state government: 1985-1987 Salisbury Personnel Board; 1988-1989 Charter Commission; 1989-1991 Board of Selectmen; 1993-200? Finance Committee/Warrant Advisory Committee; 2006-2009 Board of Selectmen.
Reasons for running for the office: I believe the town of Salisbury is a great community in which to live, work or vacation. I think the governance of Salisbury is open, professional and reasonable. I have been part of that for over 20 years and would like to think I have contributed in a small way to that positive development and growth, and wish to continue my involvement for three more years.
Issues candidate hopes to address if elected: I would continue to work on setting clear goals and objectives for the development of the beach commercial district, as well as the completion of the flood mitigation measures planned for Black Water Creek. Also want to continue to work with Department of Conservation and Recreation and other state agencies on beach dune restoration. If elected, I would also keep a close watch on and listen to our financial team and make recommendations and adjustments that have as minimal impact as possible on services to the community.
Henry Richenburg, incumbent
Address: 45 Ferry Road
E-mail: jhrichenbu@comcast.net
Age: 68
Education: Wentworth Institute
Occupation: Project executive in the plumbing, sprinkler, HVAC and process piping industry.
Offices held in local or state government: Salisbury selectman, six years, two as chairman; Warrant Advisory Committee, six years; Conservation Commission, six years; chairman of search committees for town manager and council on aging director; Chairman Rent Control Board, three years; Chairman Town Hall Renovation Committee; Co-Chairman of the Library Design Committee; Chairman of the Salisbury Elementary School Committee; member of the Housing Trust Committee and By-Law Codification Committee.
Reasons for running for the office: To continue the positive process we have made in strengthening our town government and financial status; to work with neighboring communities in sharing town services; to continue to find ways to provide food, utilities and housing assistance to our citizens during these difficult financial years ahead.
Issues candidate hopes to address if elected: To work with the town manager and beach development groups to create a fair, open and understandable process for everyone affected by the redevelopment. And to continue the process of seeking various grants to aid and help out the financial situation the town is facing due to the financial crisis our country is in.
TRITON SCHOOL COMMITTEE (one three-year term representing Salisbury)
Dale Knowles
Address: True Road, Salisbury
E-Mail: fdknowlz@yahoo.com
Age: 54
Education: Bachelor's degree from Salem State College in elementary education; Master's degree from Salem State College in special education.
Occupation: Formerly, elementary education teacher at Immaculate Conception School, in Everett; currently, special education teacher, Pentucket Lake, Haverhill public school.
Offices held in local or state government: Knowles has not held local elected or appointed office, but has served in social service organizations, such as Massachusetts Special Olympics, Salisbury's PTA and as a coach for special athletes program for the Newburyport Elks.
Reason for running for office: I wish to stay active in my community. I believe my experience and education will be a benefit for the Triton Regional School District and the town of Salisbury.
Issues candidate hopes to address if elected: To ensure that the needs of the school district are balanced with that of the community and to seriously address the issue of the girls smoking in the bathrooms at Triton.
Linda Litcofsky
Address: Rabbit Road
E-mail: linda@litcofsky.com
Age: 42
Education: Bachelor's degree from Northeastern University in electrical engineering.
Occupation: Senior Electronic Technician at Draeger Medical in Danvers for 22 years.
Offices held in local or state government: Litcofsky has not held local elected or appointed office, but has served on the Salisbury PTA and as a coach for Salisbury's Softball League.
Reasons for running for the office: My desire to run for School Committee came when I was advocating for my son Jordan. During the budget process, it was determined some programs were going to be reduced or eliminated. One of those programs was Reading Recovery. This has been such a powerful tool for my son; to think that future children in the district would not be able to benefit from this needed program was very disheartening to me.
Reading is the basis for every other subject in school. I was concerned to think if we were reducing or cutting a basic program such as this for our beginning students, what was being cut or eliminated at the middle school or high school?
Issues candidate hopes to address if elected: I feel that continuing programs that help our students gain strength in reading and math are essential. This is an area that needs to remain strong. I will work with the school committee, town officials and the superintendent to make sure we consider all alternatives to help find answers that meet the needs of the district.