April 1st

The countdown begins to the Amherst town elections. It will be interesting to see who tops the list at the end of the day on (unfortunately) April Fool's day. By any measure, this is a memorable campaign season for Amherst and a strong turnout will be welcomed (and unusual).

It's tough to judge who might be ahead by lawn signs and standouts, phone calls or leaflets stuffed in the door. But as the old saying goes, there's only two ways to run for office: scared or unopposed. Clearly there's opposition, this year more than last, which is reflective of the opinion folks have of the Selectboard. Running in a contested election takes a great deal of time, effort, and some money so the fact that so many people are willing to step forward and try can be taken as a signal of discontent. One open seat and one vulnerable incumbent makes for an interesting opportunity for change.