WESTFORD CENTER — The League of Women Voters of Westford held its 2026 Candidates Night on Wednesday, featuring those running for office in next month’s election.
Held at the Millennium Building on Depot street on April 15 , the event, which began at 7 p.m., lasted just under two hours.
Candidates were allowed to introduce themselves and give opening statements, before moderator Jo-Ann Berry of the Acton League of Women Voters asked them a variety of questions, compiled through online submission to the League by Westford residents, as well as taken directly by attendees in the audience.
Questions covered topics such as the town budget, affordability, property taxes, housing projects, schools, commercial development, clean energy and waste management.
Several key races are on the ballot for the upcoming election, including multiple seats on the Select Board. Two three-year positions are being contested, with incumbents Chris Barrett and Tom Clay facing challenger Meghan O’Connell.
“I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer for Westford for 15 years over a number of different boards and committees,” Barrett said. “I really enjoy the satisfaction of seeing projects get done that make Westford a better place.”
“I’ve had the good fortune to represent the town for a number of terms,” Clay said. “I’ll be running for reelection (for Select Board). Previously to my time on the Select Board, I was on the School Committee, elected there twice. I want to feel like we really have connected and are listening and are doing our best job and best work representing (residents in town).”
“One of the reasons I am running again for this position is because I think about how much I love this town, how much all of us love this town,” O’Connell said. “But I also look forward to what this will look like in the future when my kids are young adults and looking to settle down and raise a family, potentially, and what I see is that this is moving in a direction that will put it out of reach for them… and that frightens me.”
There is also a one-year Select Board seat available, which was added to the ballot following the resignation announcement of Select Board Clerk John Cunningham earlier this year. Scott Hazelton, David Pina and Elizabeth Sawyer are all in the race for that seat.
“As I look at the coming year, there’s challenges, opportunities, I think I can assist with,” Hazelton said. “There’s going to be some tough times, (but) we can still do good things in tough times.”
“This is my first time running for Select Board,” Pina said. “I’ve had the pleasure of 50 years of residency here in Westford and I started my career over 30 years ago in the construction and management sector. I would like to join the Select Board to offer my experience both working with engineers and architects in the residential and construction sector. I feel that my accomplishments and my experience will help preserve, promote and improve Westford’s long-standing success and character.”
“I’m a longtime Westford resident,” Sawyer said. “My community service here in Westford began 25 years ago when I joined the group of doers that make up the Westford Recycling Commission. I’m running for the one-year seat on the Select Board, to preserve what’s special and most important to us here in Westford at a time where our expenses exceed our income, costs are rising and big costs loom.”
On the Board of Health, incumbent Meaghan Hughes is running against Naseem Chatiwala for two available three-year terms.
The Housing Authority features one five-year seat, with Arnold Price on the ballot.
For Library Trustees, two three-year seats are up for election. Mary Siegel and Dana Riegert are competing.
The Planning Board has a single five-year seat. Incumbent Joan Croteau will seek reelection.
In the race for School Committee, incumbents Valery Young and William McDonald are both running to keep their seats.
As for Town Moderator, Christopher Sanders is on the ballot for a three-year term.
The town election will take place on May 5, with polls opening at 7 a.m. and closing at 8 p.m. In-person early voting at the Town Hall Clerk’s Office will begin on April 27 and will end on May 1, while the last day to register to vote is April 24. More information is available on the town’s website.
