League of Women Voters holds candidates night in Fairhaven

By Beth David, Editor

Candidates for office in Fairhaven faced questions about the budget, how they would handle conflict and what challenges they see for their prospective boards. 

All candidates were invited to the event sponsored by the League of Women Voters of SouthCoast, and held at Hastings Middle School on Thursday, 5/7. The event will be available on FairhavenTV.com soon.

Fairhaven has three contested races, with three candidates vying for two seats on the Select Board (SB); three candidates vying for a full term seat on the Plan­ning Board (PB); and two candidates vying for on unex­pired term on the PB. 

Candidates in contested races were allowed an opening and closing statement, and answered questions posed by moderator, Jack Eklund. Candidates in unopposed races were allowed a statement of up to five minutes. 

All three SB candidates attended: Miles Grant, Pam Kuechler, Rick Trapilo. All would be new to the board.

For Planning Board, incumbents, Kevin Grant and Sharon Simmons, and newcomer, Mona Phillips, are running for two full-term seats.

The board also has an unexpired term due to a resignation, with Jennifer Cardoza and Andrew Panek running for that seat.

Mr. Panek sent his regrets, saying he had a work conflict. Ms. Simmons did not respond to the League, said Moderator Jack Eklund.

Ms. Cardoza, Mr. K Grant, and Ms. Phillips answered the same questions aimed at the PB. 

In the uncontested races, School Committee candidates Erik Baumann and Michael Sherman gave statements.

Mr. Eklund asked SB candidates four questions, including if they believed the town had a revenue problem, a spending problem or both, and what their approach is to taxes vs. fees and expanding the commer­cial tax base and handling measures like overrides. 

Miles Grant said the override was only a Band-aid, but he supported it to take the town to next year. He said the town depends on local aid from the state, but it is not enough and we cannot expect the legislature to “bail us out.”

He noted that the future has issues that make this year look small, such as the Wind Turbine contract coming to an end, and the tuition agreement with Acushnet Schools changing.

Ms. Kuechler said the town needed a multi-pronged approach. Prop 2 1/2 “leaves us with a deficit,” she said. 

She said there a things the town can do with neighboring communities, there are opportunities with the coastline and other things the town is not taking advantage of. She said the town needs to hire an economic development and planning director who could look at those things. 

Mr. Trapilo said both the spending and the revenue do not math.

He said he does not support the override because the Finance Committee did not support it. 

“I’m a fiscal conservative,” said Mr. Trapilo, adding that the town needs to look at “how we spend every dollar.”

He said they need to look at a “better business model” with the schools, fire and police department, and they need to go to the state house and get more of the income taxes back. He said the town gets 26 cents back from every dollar sent.

“We need more,” said Mr. Trapilo.

In his opening and closing state­ments, Miles Grant, who is currently on the Planning Board, said he wanted to make sure challenges are debated thoroughly, collaboratively, and civilly. He said his top priority is working to rebuild confidence in town government.

“We can turn the page on the politics of division, drama, and cronyism that have gripped Town Hall for too long, and build a brighter future together,” said Miles Grant. “I’ll continue working to earn your trust and your vote.”

In her statements, Ms. Kuechler, noted that her professional career requires working with local, state, and federal legislators. 

“Those experiences have taught me how to build relationships, navigate complex systems, and move initiatives forward in practical and collaborative ways,” said Mr. Kuechler. “But my commitment to Fairhaven is also deeply local.”

She noted her 15 years on the School Committee, working through difficult challenges. 

“I understand budgets. I under­stand collaboration. I understand the importance of balancing priorities while keeping the long-term future of the town in mind,” said Ms. Kuechler. “Most importantly, I understand that leadership is not about conflict—it’s about bringing people together to get things done.”

She also said Fairhaven is a comm­u­nity filled with possibility. 

“I believe leadership matters. We need experienced leadership that listens, works hard, and focuses on solutions rather than division,” she said. 

Mr. Trapilo said Fairhaven needs experienced business leadership.

“Our town’s financial model is broken,” said Mr. Trapilo. “Asking residents to pay more each year through Proposition 2 1/2 overrides cannot be the solution. Families are feeling the rising cost of living. We owe it to you the taxpayers to fix what’s broken.”

He said he will propose an Efficiency Working Group to identify real cost savings, “because every dollar we save is a dollar we don’t take from YOU!”

He also said he will be a “persistent voice” to get Fairhaven tax dollars back from Boston. 

“Third, we must grow smartly and responsibly,” said. “I will support a long-term economic development plan that strengthens our tax base while protecting Fairhaven’s unique coastal character.”

Mr. Trapilo emphasized his business experience.

“I will bring something that is not common today…common sense to decisions,” said Mr. Trapilo, adding he has served on the Planning Board, Atlas Tack Working Group and other boards. 

“At the end of the day, this election is not about politics — it’s about our families, our future, and the kind of town we leave to the next generation,” he said. 

“I am at heart an optimist,” said Mr. Trapilo. “We can protect our schools. We can support public safety. We must help seniors stay in their homes. And we must create a future where young families can afford to live and thrive here. I have that passion and ability to deliver on this promise.”

Planning board members were also asked four questions, including how they would handle any conflict of interest issues they may face.

Ms. Cardoza said she has been through COI training and would have to tell the board when she had a conflict.

Kevin Grant said it is not up to the member to decide what is a conflict. The appearance of a conflict is enough to recuse himself. 

“I always err on the side of recusing,” he said.

Ms. Phillips said it was pretty straightforward, adding everyone has an understanding of the concept of fairness and they abide by it.

They were also asked what challenges the board faces within the next two to five years.

Kevin Grant said both 40B and 40R developments, but they “could be  good problems to have.”

He said the nature of the projects can be quite large and will have an impact on surrounding neighbor­hood. He said it does not* necessarily mean a bad impact.

“But people are always scared of change,” he said, adding that in the plazas, a 40R development “could work wonders.”

Managing those projects will be a challenge. They can give a lot of economic relief but they have to be done right.

Ms. Phillips said the 40B development being proposed now is going to be a challenge, and she is not sure how to solve it. She said she will encourage a lot of dialogue and learn from other communities to employ best practices. 

In the longer term, she said, as a coastal community, Fairhaven will have to deal with more frequent and more extreme storms. 

“It threatens our infrastructure,” said Ms. Phillips. “Infrastructure repairs are extremely expensive.”

She said there are things the town can start doing now. 

“Those are great answers. We are all trying to do the same thing,” said Ms. Cardoza**, such as encourage growth.

She said they need to reach out to the community. The need to know we are here, she said, and they need to know we are being smart.

In her opening and closing state­ments, Ms. Cardoza said she grew up in Fairhaven and has two daughters in the school system now. 

She is running because she cares deeply about Fairhaven, she said.

“The Planning Board plays a critical role in shaping Fairhaven’s future,” said Ms. Cardoza. “It is responsible not only for guiding development but ensuring that all projects comply with our town’s bylaws and regulations. That means decisions based on facts, the law, and the long-term best interest of the town not pressure, politics, or personal preference.”

She said applicants deserve a level playing field. 

“Equally important, the Planning Board must function as a team. Members must work together respectfully, listen to one another, and make decisions through collaboration not division,” she said, adding that she does not have a “one-size-fits-all mindset…My focus is making sure projects are done the right way thoughtfully, responsibly, and with the community in mind.”

Kevin Grant said he was born and raised in Fall River, with two school teachers for parents. 

It was a devoutly religious house­hold, he said, and that religion was frugality. 

In his job he is a supply chain expert dealing with a lot of international trade and negotiating contracts. 

He said he “might be delusional,” but he was drawn to serve on the PB out of a sense of volunteering, not politics.

“I get a lot from our town and our country,” said Kevin Grant, adding he wants to give back.

He also said the town is facing some very tough issues. 

It is not smart politics and he has put himself in a difficult space sometimes, by saying difficult things. 

“I don’t have any regrets,” he said. “I love this town very much. We have to take a very hard look at what sort of town we want to have.”

On her opening statement Ms. Phillips noted her experience in municipal government in Highland Park, NJ, where she served on the Zoning Board of Adjustment, and the Redevelopment Agency. She said Highland Park is a lot like Fairhaven in size, “rich social history, natural beauty and best of all, the small town feel we enjoy where neighbors know neighbors and we care for one another.”

She said the town faced many of the same issues.

“I’m proud of the Highland park accomplishments and want the same for Fairhaven,” said Ms. Phillips. 

“The guiding principle behind all my work is honesty, I tell it like it is; and integrity; and in my Public Service, stick to the fundamentals, supporting the public good,” she said. “If elected, I will bring my “can do” attitude and optimism to get the job done for Fairhaven.”

 

*Fixes error from previous versions “not” omitted.
**Fixes attribution error from previous versions

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