ROCKINGHAM-Eight candidates are in a race for three Rockingham Selectboard vacancies, one three-year and two one-year seats, with voting on Tuesday, March 3.
Selectboard Chair Peter Golec has decided to retire after serving on the board for 17 years. Board Clerk Elijah Zimmer is not running for another term, while Vice-Chair Bonnie North is seeking re-election.
The Rockingham Annual Town and School District meeting will take place at the Town Hall Main Theater in the Bellows Falls Opera House on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 2 p.m. That meeting will address several articles on the town budget.
Australian balloting for town offices and school budgets will be held on Tuesday, March 3, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Masonic Temple, 61 Westminster St.
Some voters have expressed concern that so many candidates are running this year because they want to revisit the voter-approved consolidation last year of the three volunteer fire departments - Bellows Falls Village, Saxtons River, and Rockingham - and town emergency services, into the Rockingham Fire and Rescue Department (RFRD).
The merger plan, a hot-button issue last year, was the result of a years-long process going back at least to 2023. It was put to a vote at the March 5, 2025, Annual Town Meeting. With a large voter turnout, citizens approved the consolidation by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.
A candidates forum will give voters an opportunity to hear from and question the candidates at the Rockingham Free Public Library, 65 Westminster St., on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
All candidates for Selectboard have been invited to participate and to answer two questions: "What experience and skills would you bring to the board?" and "What issues do you feel most deserve the Selectboard's attention?" Library Director Ian Graham will moderate.
The Commons attempted to contact all the candidates and allow them to answer a few questions about their reasons for running, in their own words, prior to the forum.
All the candidates who could be contacted were asked the same questions: What experience do you bring to this position? Why do you feel you are a better choice over the other candidates? Do you feel you can work cooperatively with other board members? What do you feel are the biggest issues facing the town or village? and What issues do you think voters are most concerned about?
Three-year Selectboard seat
William Crowther and Amy Howlett are in a contest for a three-year seat on the town Selectboard.
Amy Howlett: Howlett has local school and Windham Northeast Supervisory Union board experience and nonprofit board experience with Parks Place. Most recently, she served as a trustee and chair on the Saxtons River Village Trustees.
"The give and take of a small group of caring, informed people leads to good decision-making," Howlett said. "My career as a public librarian and state employee also provided valuable lessons in meeting the public face to face and figuring out what people need to be more effective.
"Last but not least, as a Vermont parent I have learned how challenging raising children can be," she continued. "We do our best to prepare them for the imperfect world they will inherit. Keeping Rockingham safe and affordable, making the town a place people want to move to or stay in, is critical to our future."
Howlett said she is confident that the voters in Rockingham know what they want.
"I'll do my best to listen carefully to the discussion at the Selectboard and make strategic decisions that continue to move Rockingham forward," she said. "I expect to listen more than I talk initially."
Howlett said that the Selectboard members who are not on the ballot this year, Rick Cowan and John Dunbar, "are strong advocates for the town who have excellent experience and skills. I look forward to learning from them. Rockingham has some big problems; working effectively with current board members and the newly elected is the best way forward."
Howlett said that she feels the issue that overrides all others is the feeling of instability and uncertainty in the country, fueled by polarization, changing prices, and new ways of operating.
"We deal with this problem locally by working together transparently and paying attention to issues brought to the select board," she said. "With veteran members retiring and a new town manager starting this spring, we'll have plenty to work on."
Howlett said that the voters she's talked to are concerned about increasing taxes, affordable housing, and the loss of medical services with North Star's departure.
"Some people have expressed fear that fire and rescue will be diminished with the new municipal department. The Selectboard will continue monitoring performance, I feel sure," she concluded.
Crowther ran for a one-year seat on the board in 2022, coming in fourth in a field of four with 46 votes. Repeated attempts to contact him for this article proved unsuccessful.
One-year Selectboard seats
In the one-year Selectboard race, six candidates - David Barrett, Dalila Hall, Charlie Jarras, Bonnie North, Larry White, and Deborah Wright - are vying for two seats. North is the only candidate currently serving on the board.
David Barrett: Barrett grew up in Bellows Falls, returning to the area in 2007, following a career in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and in the Federal Aviation Administration. He was a volunteer with the former Rockingham Volunteer Fire Department. He is the treasurer and board member for Vermont EMS District 11.
"I have managed a radio SATCOM [satellite communication] office in the USAF," he said, and was a shift supervisor for the Columbus County Sheriff's Office in Whiteville, North Carolina.
While Barrett said he stands out as a candidate because of "my honesty - most of the current board members have been untruthful to me and other town residents," he feels he can work cooperatively with other board members. His main concern for the town is "bringing the budget in line with the needs of the town."
He believes voters are most concerned about "fire protection in the outlying areas of the town."
Dalila Hall: Since joining Rockingham's Planning Commission in 2023 and serving as chair since 2025, Hall says she has "focused on making local government work better for everyone. With over 20 years in municipal planning, including roles as zoning administrator for South Burlington and with the New York City Department of Transportation, I specialize in translating complex systems into accessible tools for the public."
Hall said she applied this "user-first" approach locally by focusing on the 2024 Town Plan and the 2025 Zoning Bylaw updates.
"These aren't just documents; they are actionable road maps and simplified tools that empower residents and developers alike to invest in Rockingham's future," she said.
Hall said that her background in municipal planning gives her the "how-to" experience Rockingham needs, but said her focus is on the "who."
"I am running to bring a fresh perspective and greater diversity to our leadership," she said. "I believe in a government that listens before it acts. As an advocate for all residents, I am committed to making sure every viewpoint is heard and that our municipal systems serve the entire community, not just those already familiar with the process."
When asked about her ability to work with others, Hall wrote that she likes "to work together with people to craft positive outcomes."
"That said, I am never afraid to offer a differing opinion if it leads to a better outcome for Rockingham," Hall said.
Hall added that she believes that everyone needs to be treated with respect and dignity. Even if during disagreements, civility and respect are the best approaches to getting things done, she said: "At the end of the day we all want the same thing, a safe and prosperous community."
Hall said that the biggest challenge facing Rockingham is the interconnected squeeze on the residents and economy. High housing costs and rising municipal-service expenses are putting a strain on the families and small businesses that keep the village vibrant.
"To address this, we need a culture of transparency and active participation, so residents feel their voices shape our priorities," Hall said.
Central to this strategy? Hiring a new municipal manager, she said.
"We need to find one who can balance these competing financial interests while fostering a professional environment that attracts and retains the talented staff necessary to keep Rockingham a premier place to live and work," Hall said.
Voters are deeply concerned about the affordability crisis, she said.
"For many in Rockingham, the margin for error has disappeared - one missed mortgage payment or an unexpected medical bill can lead to financial disaster," Hall said. "As livable-wage jobs become harder to find, it is vital that town government maintains a 'top of mind' awareness of this struggle in every budgetary decision."
She said she is committed to guiding the ongoing economic development initiatives, such as the rehabilitation of the train station, ensuring these projects aren't just line items but real engines for local jobs and long-term stability.
Charlie Jarras: Jarras has served as village president and on the Bellows Falls Board of Trustees, among other positions.
"I have been on many boards in the 40-plus years I have lived in Rockingham," Jarras wrote. "I have seen what works and what does not work for Rockingham."
As far as cooperation with others, Jarras said that "being able to work with board members is a must to get things done."
He said he feels that bringing "new people to Rockingham and getting the people of Rockingham involved," along with "housing for working people," are the most important issues for the town.
Among the issues he feels the community sees as priorities are "taxes, the cost of housing, and the cost of schools K-12."
"There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer," Jarras added.
Bonnie North: North brings years of experience in local government to her candidacy for re-election to the Rockingham Selectboard, where she has served for the past four years.
Previously, she chaired the Rockingham Planning Commission for three years. For eight years, she has also served on the Windham Regional Commission, where she is vice chair of the executive board and chair of the planning agency's Brownfields Committee.
"I am also a trustee of the Rockingham [Free Public] Library and treasurer of the Bellows Falls Historical Society," the retired journalist and publisher wrote. "Prior to public service I was treasurer of both the Walpole Artisans Cooperative and the River Artisans Cooperative, president of Rockingham for Progress, and president of Sandglass Theater in Putney."
In looking at the slate of candidates, North said that she was "sure all this year's candidates have their own qualifications."
"I do have more immediate experience in the position, however, and a deep understanding of the issues currently on hand," she said. "I trust our voters to make the best choices."
Regarding being able to work with other board members, North said she understands "the importance of honest, informed, well-articulated, and healthy debate in discussions, and ultimately, trust in the democratic decisions of the board."
North listed some of the big issues facing Rockingham: flooding in the Industrial Park and other regions, the affordable housing crisis, dealing with the dangerous condition of the Saxtons River fire station, repairing/replacing the Depot Street bridge and the Bridge Street bridge, reopening the Vilas Bridge, completing the restoration of the historic Bellows Falls train station, and completing the restoration of the historic Rockingham Meeting House.
"I could go on," she wrote. "However, in the current political climate I think the issue we need to keep foremost in mind this year is controlling costs!
"Federal funds are evaporating, and although we'd all love to see many important projects accomplished quickly, we need to pay strict attention to our budget and go easy on our taxpayers at this time," North said.
"I think most voters would agree that controlling costs is paramount," she added.
Larry White: White is a longtime town highway department employee, serving for several years as director of the Rockingham Recycling Center. He was also a captain with the former Rockingham Fire Department.
White had not responded to The Commons' questions by press time.
Deborah Wright: Wright said that her municipal experience is extensive: Bellows Falls Village Trustee Board, as both president and trustee, the Rockingham Planning Commission, as both planning chair and commissioner, along with many appointments to committees and subcommittees, since 2011.
"As a 20-plus year business owner in the utility-construction industry in Rockingham, my business expertise provides background in finance, attracting candidates, negotiating, and road safety, unmatched by the other candidates," Wright said. "I do my homework and honor my oaths for my community, in every instance."
Wright is also a Rockingham justice of the peace, a member of Rockingham's Thermal Energy Network, an active voting member of both VLCT's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and the Vermont Opioid Settlement Committee.
"I listen to every citizen in Rockingham and its villages to understand their concerns, allowing me to formulate clearly what next steps are to provide a stronger, safer future for our residents," she said. "Above all else, my love for Rockingham and its villages."
Wright added that she possesses more years of experience than the other candidates, has a better understanding of the challenges the town faces, and has the vision to find solutions to these challenges, all while reducing the burden on taxpayers by eliminating waste and redundancies.
"If your home needed improvements," she said, "would you simply go to your bank and ask for more money? Or would you first determine what frugalities and course corrections could be made to achieve your goals and then create a path to accomplishing them with the least resources needed?"
Wright said she feels her record shows she works well with others.
She listed three main concerns for the future of the town: property taxes, housing, and safety.
"The current board is out of touch with the entire community, and listens only to a small siloed area of its population," Wright said.
She described it as "self-aggrandizing to consider only what the board wants, without consideration of the other taxes impacting our residents - education, state, villages, etc. Also, we cannot and must not build more housing for the unknown while displacing our current neighbors."
Wright said that policing will continue to be a concern to the outlying communities beyond the Bellows Falls Police Department.
"And while I say this, many residents have expressed their growing concerns about the area within BF as it pertains to our homeless population, vandalism, and the lack of attention to some basic community policing. I say this knowing many of them are afraid to come forward but wish more could and should be done.
"As to the new Rockingham Municipal Fire Departments, there are certainly many concerns about how this will work going forward, and complaints from rural Rockingham residents about higher taxes to support this."
Their tax burden is what Wright said voters are most concerned about.
"Safety in their community. What the future holds for them. Many older taxpayers worry they may be priced out or forced out of their beloved homes to accommodate newer residents," she said.
This News item by Robert F. Smith was written for The Commons.