Stover out of race for selectmen
Cites vacancies in her office as primary reason
BY MARY LANCASTER
On Saturday evening after a family discussion, Town Clerk Catherine Stover decided to withdraw from the selectmen's race in the April elections. Stover cited the upcoming departure of Assistant Town Clerk James Grieder to the HDC, and that she may later lose Administrative Clerk Linda MacDonald, who will travel but may not stay on the island after her trip, as her reasons for the choice.

"Just thinking about it with James leaving and Linda leaving it will really put a strain on the office," said Stover, who took out nomination papers on Jan. 24 for the Town Clerk's and selectman's positions, but will remain in the running for clerk heading into her fourth term.

"My attentions just need to be in the Town Clerk's office, at least until everybody's up to speed.

"I definitely would like to be [on the selectmen], but I just think there is going to be too much going on, and I need to train this person [replacing Grieder]. Both James and Linda will be impossible to replace. They are just wonderful people," Stover added. "It was very difficult [to make the decision]. I feel like I'm letting a lot of people down, but I always want to do what's best for the town and what's best for the town right now is for me to concentrate on the Town Clerk's office."

Stover said she hopes dedicated and qualified citizens such as Charity Benz, Dual MacIntyre or Allen Reinhard will step forward and run for the open seat. Incumbent selectman Doug Bennett has said he will not run again this year, but could not be reached to comment on whether Stover's withdrawal is influencing that decision.

In a surprise turn, it appears as though former selectman Michael Glowacki, who resigned last August for health reasons and whose interim seat Stover gained through a fall special election, may be back in the picture for the April vote.

"It's fair to say I do have some interest," Glowacki said on Sunday. "Since I needed to step down I didn't know where the bottom was for me, medically. Having that put to rest for the last six or eight weeks I've been thinking of where I might best contribute."

Glowacki said he will be away from Feb. 1 to 8, but feels confident that, if he decides to run, he can obtain the necessary 40 registered voter signatures on nomination papers before they are due at the Town Clerk's office at 5 p.m. on Feb. 12.

As of Friday, David Gray was the only other selectman contender besides Stover, and has already returned his papers. Patty Roggeveen, who lost to Stover in the special election by just one vote and said she would run again, had not yet taken out forms by the close of last week.

Selectman Brian Chadwick declined comment on Stover's action, but Chairman Whitey Willauer and board member Michael Kopko both said they are dismayed about the decision but understand what Stover is facing.

"That certainly is unfortunate," Willauer said of Stover's withdrawal. "I think she's a great candidate and I think the other thing is holding down a fulltime job and being a selectman. It becomes quite difficult. We have so many meetings and we can't make snap judgements. I think she recognizes that. That's an important consideration."

Kopko also said he is disappointed this circumstance has arisen.

"I like Catherine, but I totally understand her decision," he said. "She is really going to have her hands full at the

Town Clerk's office." I