Thompson to Attend Last Meeting as a Selectman

After serving six years, Selectman George M. Thompson has chosen not to seek re-election and will attend his last meeting as a member of the board tonight.

“I guess my passion meter for the position has flat-lined,” Thompson said recently. “I thought it was time for a change which will be good for the board and good for me as well.”

The 52-year-old attorney said there is nothing in particular that caused him to make the decision.

“I mean I’m very busy with my own business and raising my family,” he said.

Among his service to the town, Thompson said he served eight years on the Westborough State Hospital Board of Trustees (from 1990 to 1998), six years on the School Committee (from 2000 to 2006) and the past six years on the Board of Selectmen.

As an attorney in town, Thompson said he works in employee benefit litigation representing people whose insurance claims have been denied. He has worked 24 years in Worcester and Westborough.

“I just plan to devote more time to my clients and to my family and my friends,” he said.

When he started serving on the School Committee in 2000, Thompson had just one son. Now, his son is getting ready to graduate from and to attend college in the fall, he said. Additionally, he now has another 11-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter.

“They’re getting more involved with things as they get older,” Thompson said of the children, adding that his wife works as well.

Looking back on his service on the board, he said one of the most significant events was probably hiring a new town manager as well as working with the rest of the board, the Finance Committee, School Committee and town managers to help “navigate the town through choppy economic waters the past six years.”

“I think I’ve always viewed the board as an exercise in teamwork and I think I’ve been a good team player,” he said.

Asked if he has any advice to those seeking to serve on the board, he said “I guess if I had any advice it would be to be as open-minded as possible before every meeting and to treat fellow selectmen and town employees with the utmost respect and consideration at all times.”

While Thompson said the town is starting to come out of some significant budget challenges, the budget will always be the number one issue. He said he also foresees searches to replace the police and fire chiefs as they reach retirement.

As for returning to public service, Thompson said, “At this point in time, my thinking is no but the door is open.”

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