NAHANT — Three candidates are vying for the position of Nahant town clerk ahead of Saturday’s election.
Diane Dunfee, Bobbie-Jo Blair and Lori Ballentine — all longtime Nahant residents — each have years of experience when it comes to serving the town and its people.
Having worked part-time for the town for nearly 12 years, Dunfee has served as a substitute teacher for Nahant Public Schools, worked as an assistant in the Office of the Selectmen, and has also aided the Town Hall in implementing a Massachusetts State Informational Technology Grant, which consolidated and digitized permits and architectural drawings into a new Inspectional Services Software program.
“I like to work independently, and I like the work I did with the IT grant,” said Dunfee, who is a lifelong Nahanter. “It was taking documents, digitizing them, indexing them, and putting them in order, which are some of the duties of the town clerk.”
In addition to her record-keeping experience, Dunfee said her experience working with residents and elected officials during her time in the Office of the Selectmen was invaluable.
“That’s one of the reasons I decided to run,” she said. “I just (want) to give back to the town, and work with the people in town.”
If elected, Dunfee looks forward to building on the five-year, CPC-funded effort to preserve and digitize the town’s records for storage in the Clerk’s vault, and to updating the main document index for easy accessibility to Nahant’s “rich history.”
She said she’s also interested in developing more informational links between townspeople, including a “welcome packet” for new residents, and a regular town newsletter that would provide key information to all residents.
“It’s a big responsibility,” Dunfee said of the position. “You’re responsible for setting up and running the town elections, and you’re responsible for swearing in any new police officers or firemen or town officials.
“I would enjoy all of that, and I think I’m qualified for it.”
Also a lifelong Nahant resident, Blair currently works as an assistant to Town Administrator Tony Barletta, and has previously volunteered with the town’s Beautification Committee.
“I was born and raised here, I got married here, and I’m raising my child here in town,” she said of her love for Nahant. “My roots and my passion for this town are emulated in basically every aspect of my life.”
She said that when she heard the position of Town clerk would be up for grabs during Nahant’s 2020 election, she jumped at the chance to run.
“(Running for Town Clerk) is an opportunity that doesn’t typically — and rightfully shouldn’t — come up very often, so I wanted to take the opportunity to grow here in town,” Blair said. “High turnover is a very bad thing for record-keeping.”
(Nahant’s previous Town Clerk, Peggy Barile, stepped down earlier this year after spending 11 years in the position. Her predecessor, Harriet Steeves, served nearly 30 years).
If elected, Blair said she hopes to modernize the town’s record-keeping system.
“The department is well-maintained, record-wise,” she said. “It just hasn’t been elevated to the 21st century. I’d like to bring it to new heights, bring it up to speed on technology. I’d like to be in line with our surrounding communities when it comes to that aspect.”
Blair also said she’d like to help bridge the town’s generational gap and encourage fresh faces to get involved in local government.
“I want to help bridge the gap of the people who are involved and the newer generation who is starting to get involved,” she said.
For her part, Ballentine has been actively involved in the Nahant community for the past decade.
She has spent seven years on the Nahant School Committee, nine years on the 01908 Board of directors, and has been a volunteer for town elections and the Nahant Girl Scouts. She also has more than five years of experience in administration and property management, and more than 12 years of experience in professional customer service.
Ballentine holds bachelor of science degrees in history and political science, which lend to her deep interest and involvement in local government.
“I have an interest in our town government because I’m dedicated to the town, but I also find all of this fascinating,” the 16-year resident said. “I love the election process, and you know, this is the hundredth anniversary of women’s suffrage, so it’s great to see really capable women really getting out there.
“Your vote is your voice, and I think it’s really important that people get out and vote.”
Ballentine, who has been endorsed by Barile, said she would be honored to serve the town if elected.
“Nahant is special to me because when my husband and I moved here, we settled on here specifically not because of the ocean, or the beauty, or living in a seaside community, although all that is appealing. We moved here for the people. We knew this was a place we wanted to raise a family.
“Nahant is special because of the residents, because of the people that live here. That’s what makes us unique.”
More information about the candidates is available on their Facebook pages: Diane Dunfee for Nahant Town Clerk, Candidate for Town Clerk: Bobbie-Jo Blair, and Lori Ballentine for Nahant Town Clerk.
Polls at Nahant Town Hall will be open Saturday from 7 a.m. through 8 p.m.