Longtime Natick FinCom Member Will Seek Select Board Seat

NATICK, MA — A third candidate is wading into the wide-open 2022 Natick Select Board race: Twelve-year Finance Committee member Bruce Evans.

Evans had considered running for a seat previously, but decided to jump into the election this year as he reaches his Finance Committee term limit, and as a recent retiree with more time available. He has already submitted his signatures for certification to run in 2022.

"I think my background and experience navigating around town government in Natick and at the state would be helpful," he said.

Evans named a host of items he would want to tackle as a Select Board member. But he highlighted two items: working with the new Town Government Study Committee on exploring possible changes to Natick's form of government and bylaws; and the formation of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, which the town's equity task force recommended in November.

Originally from New Jersey, Evans, 66, moved to Natick in 1995 and spent his career working in marketing roles at local technology companies. He sought a seat on the Finance Committee 12 years ago after volunteering at The Center For Arts and as a youth sports coach and meeting other people involved in town government.

"There's an activism in this town that has a positive vibe that I think makes people want to live here, and want to stay," he said.

Longtime Select Board members Sue Salamoff and Richard Jennett recently announced that they will not seek new terms in the spring election. Those are the only two Select Board seats up for grabs in 2022.

Apart from Evans, Town Meeting member Cody Jacobs and former Zoning Board of Appeals member and Town Meeting member Kathryn Coughlin are running for seats.

Natick's spring 2022 election will feature an array of races, including Town Clerk, Town Moderator and three School Committee seats. The nomination period began on Dec. 1 and candidates have until Jan. 11 to return signatures for certification.