HAMPDEN — Two people are seeking the support of Hampden voters in the special election on June 23 to fill a vacancy on the Selectboard. Kathleen Pessolano and Erik Vanderleeden are each seeking election to the seat left vacant by the resignation of Craig Rivest in May.
“I am running for Selectboard because I care deeply about our town and believe we need thoughtful, steady leadership to guide us through a time of change and opportunity,” said Vanderleeden. “With rising costs, aging infrastructure and growing demands on local services, now is a crucial moment to make smart, forward-thinking decisions that protect what we value while planning responsibly for the future. I am stepping up now because I see both the need and the opportunity to strengthen our town’s financial resilience, improve transparency and ensure that we are investing in solutions that serve everyone — not just today, but for years to come. I believe in collaborative, practical governance that reflects our community’s values, and I am ready to bring that commitment to the table.”
For Pessolano, the decision to run for Selectboard was not an easy one. “As a member of the Advisory [Committee] for the last four years, I’ve witnessed attempts to change the structure of our town government from a direct democracy to that of an oligarchy, which means ‘rule by a few.’ Our Town Meeting is the purest form of democracy. The voters are the legislative branch. Voters decide the budget, they decide where the funds will be spent, they decide which warrant articles will pass and which will not. But the voters have an additional important role. They elect the town clerk, tax collector, treasurer and members to various boards. These officials are not appointed and not hired as town employees reporting to the Selectboard. They are independent, autonomous and answerable to the voters who elected them.”
The Advisory Committee is not Pessolano’s only experience with municipal government. She said, “I have spent a number of years involved in town government. All of my time has been on a volunteer basis. Over the past 20 years, I have served on the Advisory [Committee] for three different tenures, serving as [chair] during my second tenure. For the last two years, I have also served on the [Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District] Finance Subcommittee. In prior years, I have served on the building study committee for the expansion and renovation of Green Meadows [School], search committees for a new superintendent [and] been very active in our school district and our schools.”
Pessolano also cited both formal and informal education that would help her in making decisions for the town. “I have had the privilege of working with and being mentored by such people as Dick Jones, Rick Moriarty and Bill Olmstead, all who have passed, but the knowledge they imparted to me will certainly never be forgotten,” she said. “I have an undergraduate degree in government from Smith College and a law degree from Western New England University. I know how to interpret regulations, statutes and the laws of the commonwealth.”
Vanderleeden said, “I bring a unique perspective to the Selectboard through my background in clinical engineering, where I manage complex systems, ensure safety compliance and make cost-effective decisions that balance quality, performance and budget. These skills translate directly to responsible municipal governance. I am committed to transparent budgeting, smart infrastructure investments and long-term planning that maintains essential services without overburdening taxpayers. By applying engineering discipline to fiscal policy, I will work to keep our community financially stable, sustainable and prepared for the future.”
The election winner will serve for the next 23 months on the Selectboard, the remainder of the term for the vacant position. Each candidate has issues they would like to address during that time.
“Over the course of the next few years, our town will face a number of challenges,” Pessolano said. “We have seen state funding shortfalls for the regional school district, the expansion of our water district, the need for renovation/expansion of the fire station, the relocation of Town Hall to [the former Thornton W. Burgess School] and the future use of the current Town House property. Another challenge is to reconcile the recommendations set forth in the town’s Master Plan with the budget constraints the town will be facing. Solving these issues will require the collective efforts of all town officials, employees and members of the Selectboard.”
Vanderleeden urged proactive measures to deal with Hampden’s challenges. “One of the most important issues facing Hampden is balancing investment in essential services — like our regional school district, Senior Center and Town House — with the need to protect our natural resources, including clean water and open spaces. These priorities reflect both the character of our town and the expectations of our residents,” he said.
Managing the town’s development is also a priority for Vanderleeden. “We need clear, transparent planning that focuses on long-term value, not short-term fixes. As a member of the Selectboard, I will support responsible budgeting, strategic infrastructure improvements and land-use decisions that preserve what makes Hampden special while meeting the evolving needs of our community. With a steady, solutions-focused approach, I will work to ensure Hampden remains a vibrant, well-cared-for town for generations to come.”
Also on the ballot is a request to exempt the payment for a bond issued for renovations to the Fire Station from the provisions of Proposition 2½ after the bonding was authorized at Town Meeting on May 12. At Town Meeting, town Treasurer Rickhard Patullo said the construction would be funded by short-term borrowing until it is completed, with the town paying interest only. Once the project is finished, the town will go out for a 20-year bond and make annual payments of $644,000 to $873,000 a year. Patullo said that the town would likely see a tax increase of 4.3-5.9% over the bonding period.
Voting will take place at the Town House, 625 Main St., from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
