Diana Haynes Enters Race For Milford’s Lone Contested Seat On Board Of Health

MILFORD, MA — Milford residents will vote in April on several local offices, including the only contested race, an open Board of Health seat; and longtime resident Diana M. Haynes has announced her candidacy.

Haynes is a former nurse and hospital case manager who has lived in Milford for most of her life. After working closely with the town's Board of Health throughout her career, Haynes decided to run for the open seat this election season.

From 1978 to 2013, Haynes said she worked for Milford Visiting Nurses and served as a manager for a good portion of that time. Throughout her tenure, the VNA worked closely with the Milford Board of Health to support their nursing responsibilities, even during a tuberculosis outbreak in the town in 2004, Haynes said.

By working closely with the board, Haynes learned a lot about their responsibilities, which led her to run.

Related: Milford Ballot Takes Shape Ahead Of 2026 Town Election With Single Contested Race

Big Issues Facing Milford

When asked what the biggest issue facing constituents in Milford was, Haynes highlighted that all residents, whether young or old, will have different answers to the question. However, from a Board of Health perspective, Haynes said the biggest issue she sees is overcrowding in housing, which can significantly impact neighborhoods.

She added that compliance with health-related rules is another issue. She gave examples like residents not following disposal or recycling regulations, poorly kept up properties or excess vehicles parked on streets.

In 2011, the Select Board commissioned a Neighborhood Task Force. The group, a collaboration among multiple town entities, including the police and fire departments, the town administrator, and the building commissioner, works together to identify areas with unregistered vehicles, excessive garbage, and overcrowded apartments, among other things.

Haynes said that some ways to address the compliance issue include using the Neighborhood Task Force and providing education.

"I think education of owners of the homes, and through not only the Task Force, but identifying community leaders... to draw in involvement," Haynes said. "Education and knowledge really do help with compliance, and just coming and meeting people halfway."

See Also: Milford School Committee Member Brendan Rickert To Run For Re-Election

After growing up and attending schools in Milford, Haynes went on to Fitchburg State College and got a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. In addition to working at the VNA, she worked as a case manager at a hospital and a physician group.

Haynes said that her time working as a manager has prepared her well for a role on the Board of Health. "I like to consider myself as someone who would see things from both sides," Haynes told Patch. "You need to come together and try to find a common ground."

Back in 2024, Haynes ran for an open Board of Health seat but came up only a few hundred points behind current Chair Loriann Braza. Paul Mazzuchelli is the other member of the town's Health Board.

"I thought I would try again," Haynes said. "It's sort of linked to something I did for a good portion of my career, and that, therefore, I felt like I knew a lot about what the Board of Health did."

Haynes said she wants people to know that running for a board or committee in local government is hard work. Although Milford's voter turnout has recently been low in local elections, people should still get out and vote, according to Haynes.

Less than 5 percent of voters went out to vote in last year's Annual Town Election, according to The Milford Daily News.

The 2026 Annual Town Election is scheduled for Tuesday, Apr. 7. Several elected official positions will appear on the ballot, including one open seat on the Board of Health, which will be the only contested race.

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