Drewry running for Selectman
By Ken Powers Community Reporter

Westborough - With the town headed into an uncertain and treacherous financial period, Denzil Drewry believes his experience, which includes public, private and military service, can help this tight-knit community make the tough decisions he believes it is going to have to make.

Because of that, Drewry has decided to run for the Board of Selectmen in the Tuesday May 6 Town Election. The seat became open when Board of Selectmen Chair Sue Abladian announced she will not run for re-election.

"Part of my decision to run is because of the civic duty I feel to the town," Drewry said. "The town is about to enter a period where they will be facing many tough decisions. Tough times are coming and tough decisions will need to be made to keep the budget balanced amid a challenging economic time."

Drewry said he will call on the experience gained from his four previous terms on the Board of Selectmen (1989 to 1995 and 2000 to 2006), as well as his current position in risk management for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, to help the town make the decisions necessary to ensure its fiscal health.

Other life experience Drewry has on his résumé include many years in the private sector as vice president of sales with a focus on employee benefits for a national insurance company, as well as stints on the town's Personnel Board and the Finance Committee and four years of military service, which included serving in Vietnam.

Drewry, 62, was a commissioned officer while serving in Vietnam as a member of the Special Forces A Team. He was awarded both the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart for bravery and valor.

"I led men in combat and made crucial decisions during wartime," Drewry said. "I think that's relevant because of the decision-making necessary to be a selectman and help lead the town through troubled times."

Drewry definitely believes challenging times are on the horizon in Westborough.

"These are tough times," Drewry said. "This year, for the first time ever, Westborough may need to approve a Proposition 2-1/2 override. That's never even been discussed before. The town needs to become more cost eff ective. We need to look at everything: ways to increase revenue, ways to cut spending."

One area that Drewry said he thinks needs examining is property taxes.

"Property taxes are much, much higher in Westborough than they are in other towns and I think that's something that needs to be looked at," Drewry said. "Westborough residents pay $2,000 more than Shrewsbury residents and $1,500 more than Northborough residents in similar situations. That needs to be looked at.

"Westborough residents have always voted to spend money when the situation would be best served spending the money," Drewry said, "but with the current economy the way it is, we can't be spending the way we used to."

Drewry grew up in Maine and moved to Northborough with his family in 1964. Shortly after the move he joined the Army, serving until 1969. Drewry moved to Westborough in 1977 and was a Little League baseball coach for five years and also coached youth league basketball for three years. He has served on, among other committees, the Soldiers Memorials Trustees Committee.