Sarah Wright steps into the role of Lee Town Moderator – theberkshireedge.com

Sarah Wright, Lee's newly elected Town Moderator.

Just as COVID19 arrived, I canceled a long overdue trip to New York City to see a couple of Broadway shows. I was especially looking forward to seeing Tracy Lettss Pulitzer Prize nominated play The Minutes, which Playbill described as a play about small-town politics and real-world power. The New York Times said it seeks to explore the roughness of American politics through a local government meeting. Indeed, the plays title refers to the minutes of a city council confab.

Fast forward to Election Day two weeks agoin Lee and I somehow foundmyself on the ballot, running unopposed for town moderator. I thus wrote this columnas an all-in-oneconcession speech (in case a bunch of Tik Tok teens and K-Pop stans were planning torigthe election), as well as my socially distant campaign platform (see Roberts Rules of Order andThe Emily Post Institute), and finally, my acceptance speech (immoderate for a moderator?)

Myinitial foray into local politics occurred last winter when I threw my hat in the ring for a school committee appointment. To prepare for my joint interview with the Selectboard and the School Committee, I read a years worth of the latters meeting minutes, which once or twice mentioned something I hadnt thought of in four decades: head lice. Clearly, I was the least qualified candidate for that role.

When I later attended the Lee Democratic Town Committee meeting in mid-February, the goal then was to elect delegates to the statewide 2020 Democratic Convention in Lowell. Of course, the Convention was canceledon April 4thand the party chair asked the Secretary of State to put both Senator Ed Markey and Congressman Joe Kennedy III on the primary ballot for U.S. Senate. Campaigning has since become Zooming and town meetings look more and more like drive-in movies.

People asked why I ranfor moderator. Others asked, what wereyou thinking? The answer to both questions wasthe same: For so many women running for office in record numbers across the country, the current state of national electoral affairsis an inescapable call to action. In small towns and rural areas like Lee, declining population means that government only works as long as there are people who are willing and able to serve.

As I considered the open seats in Lee, I reached out to R. Christopher Brittain, town moderator for the last 13 years. I asked him all kinds of questions related to moderating the annual town meeting. Its no exaggeration to say this phone call was unlike any Ive ever experienced. Mr. Brittains vast knowledge of moderator nitty-gritty dazzles the mind. His expertise goes so far beyond description, I cannot do it any justice here.Seriously, who knew there are actual parliamentary procedure competitions? R. Christopher Brittain, thats who.

My respect for breadth and depth of hyperspecialized knowledge or skill of any kind is reverential. And good government relies on such expertise. When Mr. Brittain became town clerk in Lee earlier this year, the moderator vacancy occurred.

Like social distancing, running unopposed feltodd. Nevertheless, I went to the polls andhopedfor the best, which meantpublic health precautions in effect and voter turnout in spite of COVID19. Two weeks later:not only have I been sworn in, Ive also joined the Massachusetts Moderators Association.

I sincerely thank the voters of Lee, who have put their faith in me to fillsome very largeshoes. To the poll workers especially, your commitment to democracy trulyreassures me. And to the Town of Leepolice officers who spent the whole day there, I see your oath of honor to law enforcement in action.

The Lee annual town meeting will be held at a dateto be determined.Until then, Ill brush up not only on meeting minutes, but on theminutiae of town meeting itself.And Ill look forward to meeting more of my fellow Lee denizens Democrats, Independents, Republicans, and others as things continue to gradually re-open, all in moderation.

Read the original:
Sarah Wright steps into the role of Lee Town Moderator - theberkshireedge.com

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero