Election workers gather as voters cast their ballots on election day in Hudson.
By Laura Hayes, Contributing Writer
HUDSON — The voters have spoken, and there will be new faces on the Hudson Select Board and Hudson School Committee.
Hudson voters went to the polls on May 10. Following the retirement of Select Board members John Parent and Joe Durant, there were two open seats. The School Committee also saw its own contested race.
Burks, Sadowski win Select Board seats
Five people threw their hats into the race for Select Board.
Former Chief of Police Michael Burks Sr. and finance committee member Shawn Sadowski were elected, with Burks receiving 1,342 votes and Sadowski receiving 984.
Douglas Schaeffer received 686 votes, Sina Abbott received 299 and Ricky Gelin received 247.
In an email to the Community Advocate following the election, Sadowski congratulated Burks and said the other candidates ran a great race.
“I would like to thank the residents of Hudson for putting their faith in me and electing me to the Select Board,” Sadowski said. “I look forward to working on the board and [with] Hudson residents and business owners to keep the town moving in the right direction.”
Following his win, Burks has been responding to emails to thank people for their support. He was also reading up before his first meeting on May 17 to help provide a smooth transition.
“I’m happy. I’m excited. I’m ready to get to work,” Burks said.
He thanked his campaign team for their support and said he appreciated the sacrifices of his fellow candidates in running for the Select Board.
“I promised to use humility, integrity and transparency, and that’s what I’m going to do when I sit on the board on Monday,” Burks said prior to that May 17 meeting.
Levine, MacKenzie, Terra-Salomão, Yates join School Committee
With four openings, five people, including incumbent Glenn Maston, were vying for the School Committee openings.
Hudson High School senior Ilan Levine ran unopposed to fill a seat initially vacated by committee member Rebecca Weksner, who resigned last year. He received 1,414 votes.
Molly MacKenzie, who received 1,037 votes; Mark Terra-Salomão, who received 1,048 votes; and former committee member Chris Yates, who received 1,287 votes, were elected to three-year terms.
Maston received 997 votes.
“It’s really telling and special that we have a new majority slate of people that will be on the committee,” said Terra-Salomão.
A Hudson High School graduate, he said he was excited to pay things forward to the teachers and administrators who helped him become who he is.
“I’m looking forward to hit the ground running with the School Committee meeting [on May 11],” Terra-Salomão said.
During that committee meeting, MacKenzie was unanimously elected Vice Chair. She said she was honored that the members voted for her and had confidence in her in a position of leadership.
“I’m very excited to get to work,” she said. “I’m very honored that the people of Hudson had the confidence that I can do the work of a School Committee meeting member.”
Yates previously served on the School Committee from 2001 to 2011. He also served on what was then known as the Board of Selectmen from 2011 to 2014.
He said he was pleased with his win.
Yates elaborated that he was looking forward to working with the new majority and the existing board to accomplish positive work and help move the district in a “more positive direction.”
“All three candidates that won were strong candidates that bring great value, life experience and different perspectives to the board,” he said. “The same goes for the candidate that won the one-year vacancy opening.”
