ANDOVER — In January, all three selectmen candidates in next Tuesday's town election voted in the special state election in which Republican Scott Brown was elected to the U.S. Senate.
But when it comes to participation over the past decade in annual town elections and Town Meetings, records from the town clerk's office show a difference in the level of involvement between the challenger and the two incumbents vying for two board seats.
Incumbents Alex Vispoli and Jerry Stabile and challenger Larry Bruce are asking for votes next week.
Bruce, who is hoping to unseat one of the two incumbents, attended one night of a Town Meeting in 2004 and voted in one local election in the last 10 years.
Although Bruce has voted in fewer elections and attended fewer Town Meetings than the incumbents during that period, the records also show that Vispoli and Stabile likewise were less active before they were elected to the board.
"We live in a wonderful country where we are given the right to vote or not to vote," said Bruce, who has lived in town since 1989. He said there hasn't been a candidate he's wanted to vote for since 2002.
"My candidacy is so different from anyone who's run for selectmen in the past 20 years," Bruce said, adding that he thinks the town has a spending problem, and he'd like to fix it. "In this case it's worth going to the field house to vote this year."
As for his lack of participation at Town Meeting over the years, he said he doesn't think the present form of government is best for Andover.
"It represents those who endure the hardship," said Bruce of residents having to attend Town Meetings to have their voices be heard. He said "we'd be better served" by ending the Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting form of government in favor of a city-style government.
Since 2001, Vispoli, the current chairman of the board, has participated in 21 nights of Town Meeting, and he has voted in 10 different elections since 1998, according to town records. He moved to town in 1996 and before being elected to the Board of Selectmen in 2004, he participated in only one night of Town Meeting but voted in four local elections starting in 1998.
Vispoli said it is important for residents to be involved because it is residents who govern the town. Town Meeting and local elections give residents the chance to determine town priorities, bylaws, purchases and budgets.
"It is the purest form of democracy," Vispoli said. "Everybody has a chance to vote and have a say in what the town does.
"It's your opportunity to voice your opinion," he said.
Stabile said he has lived in town on-and-off for 40 years and most recently moved back in 2000. Since 2004 he has attended 11 Town Meeting nights and voted in four local elections. In the three years before Stabile was elected to the board in 2007, he attended two nights of Town Meeting and voted in one local election.
The records for Stabile in the town clerk's office started in 2002, while Bruce's and Vispoli's started in 1998.
Stabile said it took time for him to get involved in the community after moving back in 2000. Since being elected to the board in 2007, he has participated in the town government "100 percent," he said.
He said it is important for residents to vote at both Town Meeting and during the annual town election.
"Especially in these times there are a lot of important issues on the (Town Meeting) warrants," he said.
"Everybody can vote but not everybody does vote," he said. "It's up to you, it's your opportunity to be heard and your chance to make a difference."
The poll are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Andover High School field house, 80 Shawsheen Road.
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