By Martina Nacach Cowan Ros
Boston University News Service
In response to declining attendance and participation, a local residents advocacy group has produced a pre-election video project that informs voters about local candidates and issues from the comfort of their homes.
Geri Eddins, chair and a founding member of Citizens for Milford, also pointed to a decline in the number of people seeking town office in recent years.
“We haven’t had a contested Select Board race since 2020,” said Eddins, who has lived in Milford for more than 30 years.
Originally named Casino-Free Milford, the organization was created in 2013 to fight the proposed construction of a resort casino in town. Following a successful campaign that led voters rejecting the proposal, the group was renamed Citizens for Milford in February 2014.
Citizens for Milford’s first project was hosting a forum for local office seekers in the town’s annual spring election. The forum was the largest part of a collaboration with the Town Clerk’s Office to share information through social media and newsletters during every election cycle. The event that allowed residents to pose questions to candidates in a public setting.
This year marks the first time in a decade that the forum will not take place.
But last fall, Citizens for Milford videotaped “Get Ready To Run: Town Election 2025″ in November. The two-hour program, produced with the Town Clerk’s Office and Milford TV, provides information about the town’s upcoming April 1 election through interviews of town representatives, who explain their respective position’s responsibilities and requirements to run for office.
Eddins said the group hoped the video would incentivize more people to run for office this year, but there’s only one contested race — town constable, which has seven candidates for five seats — a “dramatic decrease,” from last year, she said.
“There is strong Milford community pride,” Eddins said, explaining that lack of interest is not the reason why there has been a decrease in local political participation. Rather, she pointed to the fear of backlash on social media, the volatility of national politics and time constraints as reasons why many choose not to run.
It takes “courage” to run for local office, but the impact these positions have on people’s daily lives is undeniable, she said.
Select Board member Paul Mazzuchelli, who was interviewed for the pre-election project, said holding local office requires “dedication and continuous learning.” Mazzuchelli, who before becoming a Select Board member was the town’s public health director for more than 40 years, said he’s “still learning every day.”
Eddins also highlighted the importance of voting in local elections.
“Executing our right to vote in our local elections is one of the most powerful rights that we have that has a major impact on our daily lives,” she said. It’s part of Citizens for Milford’s core mission to encourage people “to be active citizens in the community.”
The organization hosts other annual events, including a Christmas tree lighting, the Field of Flags and Beautification Day.
Kim Smith, Citizens for Milford’s vice chair, said the Christmas tree lighting brings people together to share food and drinks, take pictures with Santa and encourage a holiday carol sing-along. Treasurer Nancy Wojick said her favorite event is the Field of Flags, as American flags are displayed three times annually to honor veterans and active military personnel.
Mazzuchelli recalled the “unbelievable” results of Beautification Day, in late April, when volunteers dedicate their time to clean up the town. He reinforced the importance of having these types of volunteer organizations.
“It sets an example that there are people out there that are willing to volunteer their time and energy to make the town a better place,” he said.
Although the deadline to pull papers for the April 1 town election has passed, Eddins said the organization is now focused on promoting the election and getting people to vote. She hopes the pre-election project proves to be an effective tool in increasing awareness of local politics.
“We put the information out there so that people can make their own choices about whom to vote for,” Eddins said. “There are a lot of good people who are serving right now, and I would encourage anybody who has thought about it, but maybe has questions or concerns, to actually talk to the people who are currently serving.”
This story originally appeared in the Milford Daily News.
