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 Maeghan Hughes, as well as Naseem Chatiwala are both running unopposed for the 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.
3 Responses
Summary of the Select Board Candidates
Westford Friends—save yourself some time on this long video. Here is what you need to know about the candidates for the three-year and one-year Select Board terms:
Chris Barrett & Tom Clay: Represent a continuation of current leadership. Their policies lean toward increased spending and higher property taxes, which risks making Westford even more unaffordable for seniors and middle-income families.
Meghan O’Connell: Represents a shift toward accountability. She is dedicated to questioning tax hikes and ensuring the town’s budget reflects the residents’ priorities, not a pre-set political agenda of the current leadership.
The Bottom Line: If you are concerned about the rising cost of living in Westford and want a leader who will be a watchdog for your tax dollars, Meghan O’Connell is the clear choice.
Regarding the One-Year Term Candidates:
The choice for the one-year term is equally critical. Scott Hazelton represents a continuation of the “old guard” and the same progressive spending model seen with Barrett and Clay – a path that risks Westford becoming an exclusive, high-cost urban enclave. While David Pina has been successful as a contractor, the Select Board requires a level of municipal leadership and policy experience that is not yet evident in his platform.
Elizabeth Sawyer is the clear choice for those seeking a return to traditional fiscal management. She is committed to controlling town costs, eliminating luxury amenities that benefit only a few, and providing meaningful assistance to residents burdened by high taxes.
If you want a town managed with common sense and financial discipline, Elizabeth Sawyer deserves your vote.
There are two openings for 3-year terms (Tom Clay, Chris Barrett, Meghan O’Connell) and one opening for a 1-year term (Elizabeth Sawyer, Scott Hazelton, David Pina).
1-Year Term Candidates
Elizabeth Sawyer
Elizabeth stood out for her emphasis on communication and collaboration. She spoke about the importance of working through differences thoughtfully and finding a path forward together. Her approach felt grounded in partnership and steady relationship-building, which is something I personally value in local governance.
Scott Hazelton
Scott focused on his past service and contributions, including his role in supporting flag-raising events on the Town Common.
I asked Scott directly about something that has stayed with me—his lack of support when I reached out during the first Indigenous Peoples’ Day observance, when the DEI Committee was navigating significant community pushback. At the time, I had hoped for leadership that affirmed the will of the voters. Instead, he expressed that the DEI Committee had not handled the ballot question appropriately, which he felt contributed to the situation.
At this event, his response began by noting that he had recently been criticized elsewhere for being too supportive of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. That contrast, for me, continues to raise questions about consistency and leadership in challenging moments.
David Pina
I don’t have enough familiarity with David to offer meaningful insight.
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3-Year Term Candidates
Tom Clay
Tom came across as exactly what many in town have experienced—steady, genuine, and grounded. He spoke honestly about the financial challenges ahead and the work required, but remained focused on moving the town forward in a thoughtful way. His respect for colleagues, staff, and volunteers was clear, and his tone balanced realism with optimism.
Chris Barrett
Chris reinforced his long-standing commitment to the town through his continued service. He was thoughtful in recognizing overlap with Tom’s remarks and chose to keep things concise to allow for more dialogue. His approach reflects experience and a willingness to engage.
Meghan O’Connell
I have had more direct experience with Meghan. She brings a strong ability to ask probing questions and to stress-test issues. That can surface important considerations.
At the same time, her approach often leans toward pressure-testing positions and people, rather than building shared understanding through a more iterative, collaborative process. For me, that distinction matters.
For those familiar with Strong Ground by Brené Brown, it offers a helpful lens. Brown describes a shift in leadership styles—between those grounded in curiosity, learning, and connection, and those that prioritize certainty, debate, and testing. Both have a place, but they create very different environments.
In my view, Meghan’s style aligns more with the latter—focused on certainty and sustained pressure-testing—rather than a collaborative, exploratory approach.
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Final Thoughts
What stood out most from the event is that this isn’t just about policy positions—it’s about how people lead, how they show up with others, and how they navigate difficult moments.
For me, collaboration, consistency, and respect—especially when things get hard—are critical qualities in local leadership.
Voters may see it differently, but I think it’s worth paying close attention not just to what candidates say, but how they engage, respond, and lead when it matters most.
First of all, I wish Alex, you had included a link to the taping of this event by WestfordCAT so that your readers could actually see and hear the candidates answers – especially for the Select Board positions. Your article was very minimal and voters need to make up their minds with information – please post the video several times in the next 2 weeks. Here are my comments about the candidates for the 1-year position: David Pina could not answer 2 questions that evening, as he did not have the knowledge (as he clearly stated): he was not familiar with the Town’s Strategic Plan. Obviously, Mr. Pina has not done his homework and is not prepared for this role; living here for 50 years does not qualify one to serve in the top leadership position if one has not been involved in any town board or commission in any way. In my opinion, Scott Hazelton has given the town a good and long legacy of service in his 12 years on the Select Board. It is time for other long-committed and creative residents to serve as leaders. Elizabeth Sawyer’s background in both her work history and volunteer service: 25 years serving on Westford’s Recycling Commission (she still is) and co-chair of the Day School PTO when her son attended. As she says on her website, “Fundamentally, I measure the possibilities against a critical question: Does this change strengthen our community.” Elizabeth will be looking for new possibilities and solutions as a Select Board member. She is very collaborative and two-way communication is one of her top priorities. Please visit her website:
https://www.elizabethsawyerforwestford.com/home
As for the 3-year position(s), Tom Clay and Chris Barrett, the 2 incumbents, have proved themselves in their service on the Select Board. They both have and will continue to care deeply about working well as a team with their other colleagues on this board. They both have had major service roles on many boards and committees in Westford over decades. Meaghan O’Connell is not a team player (I have said this to her in person). Please vote for Elizabeth, Tom and Chris.