Born and raised in Mattapoisett, Catherine Heuberger says she has thought for “quite some time” about running for Select Board. When the thought got serious, she wrote the state Ethics Commission to find out if her full-time job as Mattapoisett’s town clerk poses a conflict of interest.
“They’re supposed to let me know within 30 days … it turned out to be a lot longer (wait),” she said of what was a four-page letter needing an attorney’s guidance to fully understand. The conclusion: “There’s nothing stopping me from (serving in both roles.)”
Tyler Macallister’s three-year term is up this year, and he faces the challenges of both Heuberger and Brian Connelly. Brad Hathaway pulled and returned papers for the seat but on April 3 pulled out of the race.
“If this happens and I am elected, there are things I would have to take into consideration,” said Heuberger. “There will be a little more – how is this going to play out?”
Immediately lurking is the question of running the 2023 Town Election scheduled for Tuesday, May 16. Heuberger said that Town Administrator Mike Lorenco has reached out to Town Counsel for guidance.
“It’s a very important part of what I do,” said Heuberger, who as of Tuesday morning was waiting to learn what she “should be doing and should not be doing regarding the upcoming election. … We’ll have some answers on that soon.”
As town clerk, Heuberger is well aware of the need for specific instructions as to her involvement for the town’s and her own protection against any potential accusations, but she is also confident in her office staff and team of experienced election volunteers.
Nada Parker, the former longtime town clerk in Rochester, served on the Board of Selectmen there, Heuberger pointed out. “There is no ethics problem with it,” she said. “Everyone has day jobs. The difference with me is my day job is actually here in Town Hall.”
If elected, Heuberger compared her hypotheticals to Select Board member Jordan Collyer, who is a Mattapoisett Fire Department captain. Just as Collyer recuses himself from voting on matters pertaining to the Fire Department, so Heuberger sees herself recusing from the budget in the Town Clerk’s department, for instance. “That’s more a conversation for down the road,” she said.
Debra O’Malley, the director of Communications for the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, replied to an email from The Wanderer, stating “that state election laws do not prohibit the town clerk from holding another town office, nor do the laws prohibit a person from running on the same town election ballot for more than one office,” wrote O’Malley.
“While the Elections Division doesn’t track how many clerks have held other positions simultaneously, it is not unheard of for a town clerk to be a member of the board of selectmen. I am aware of at least one other clerk – Nancy Talbot in Ware – who has been a member of the board of selectman while serving as town clerk.”
By Mick Colageo