Politics & Government

Haarde: No Hard Feelings Not Getting Chairman Position

After Town Meeting, Larry O'Brien was voted back as the Board of Selectmen Chair.

There was no argument. Just a handshake and a "congratulations."

Selectman Bob Haarde said that was his decision the night Town Meeting ended on May 8 when he learned he would not be the next chairman of the Board of Selectmen.

"There was no explanation ... other than me expressing my desire to be the chairman," Haarde said. "I thought it was my turn, as I had been told."

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According to Haarde, after he was elected two years ago, current selectman John Drobinski said the chairman's position rotates every year. Drobinski asked Haarde to vote for him, and in turn Drobinski would vote for Haarde when it was his turn.

The Board met on stage at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School when Town Meeting ended at 10:41 p.m. when the vote went down.

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"I was asked to vote for both of them when it was their turn with understanding I would be Chair when it was my turn," Haarde said. "After the meeting I went straight home and was sound asleep by 1:45 a.m."

O'Brien said he was not at liberty to explain why the Board didn't reorganize.

"A motion was made and I seconded it. John made a motion, and I supported it," O'Brien said. "Bob didn’t make a case for it, there was no other discussion other than he’d like to be chair. Bob picked up his portfolio and left, and the meeting was over."

Haarde said he doesn't want to come across bitter over what happened, and that if he had to guess today he would run for re-election next year.

"I believe the Board of Selectmen's job is to represent the people of Sudbury. I think about people first," Haarde said. "I think through everything ... that ‘s where I’m coming from. I have mixed feelings about (running for re-election). If I had to guess I’d say I’d run again."

A message left for Drobinski was not returned at the time this story was published.


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