Former Selectman Hopes to Return to the Board

Editor's note: . Westborough Patch reached out to the candidates who are seeking public office and will feature profiles on them in the days and weeks leading up to the election. George Barrette, featured here, is one of three running for two open positions on the Board of Selectmen.

Name:  George Barrette

Age: 54 

Address: 237 West Main St.

Family: Wife Diane and three children, Drew, Chrystine and Kate. Kate is a senior at .

Previous/Current Public Service: I am currently a member of the Municipal Building Committee and the Council on Aging. I was a selectman from 2001 to 2007. I served on the FinCom from 1996 to 2001, and the Capital Expenditure Planning Committee before that. I was a member of the this past fall, and the co-chairperson of the 275th Anniversary Committee in 1992. I chaired the InterFaith Thanksgiving Dinner three years ago. 

Employment: I am Senior Group National Accounts Representative with Ameritas Group. My office is in Northborough.

Education: I have a BS in business administration from Northeastern University.

Why do you want the position?

I am excited at the opportunity to get back involved with the board at this critical time. The time away has given me a chance to talk to people in town, work on two important committees and I am recharged and ready to serve. 

What do you feel are the biggest issues facing the Board of Selectmen?

Our tax rate continues to rise to unacceptable levels; we need to work together to reign in spending while providing a high level of services. Our seniors, as well as all taxpayers, are getting squeezed by our $19+ per $1,000 tax rate. Other major issues include the dispostion of the and how it will effect our taxes and services, our need for a new at this critical time and our need to continue to attract businesses back to Westborough to offset these tax increases.  

How do you plan to affect change?

I want to be very involved with the Economic Development Committee and work closely with our legislators in Boston, all of whom I know well and have worked with, to be sure the state hospital land is resolved in the best interests of the Westborough taxpayer, not Beacon Hill. Beyond that, I will continue, as I did in my first two terms, to be available to people on the phone or in person to help them with any problem that arises — to provide a high level of constituent service. 

Fun Fact: I love to play in my yard, take great pride in having a nice lawn (without watering) and getting really dirty digging in my yard.