Joe Deedy, front center, holds his wife Kristi, after winning Tuesday night’s selectmen race in Southwick. Well-wishers gathered at the Moo-Licious Farm for the celebration. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – Joseph Deedy is the newest member of the Board of Selectmen.
Deedy, a Republican, received 751 votes. His opponent Marcus Phelps, who ran unenrolled, received 520 votes.
Following the announcement, Deedy celebrated with supporters at his business, Moolicious Farm Ice Cream.
He was, of course, happy with the result and said the amount of people he needed to than was “endless” from all political parties.
“This wasn’t about a party,” Deedy said, although he joked that when he moved back to his hometown of Southwick he “came out of the closet as a Republican.”
Deedy said there is much work to be done quickly, including vacancies at the Department of Public Works and Police Department.
“We have to decide, with the DPW, if we want to combine any positions and we have to either move people up in the police department or maybe look outside,” said Deedy. “There is a lot to do.”
Selectman Russell Fox, who is the likely next chairman of the board, said both Deedy and Phelps were good candidates.
“They both worked really hard,” said Fox. “I do look forward to working with Joe, His Planning Board experience will be an asset to the board.”
Fox said Deedy’s business success and energy will also benefit the town and said he has a “soft voice” that would help keep the tone of the board meetings more quiet than they have been recently.
“Ninety-five percent of what the board has done was unanimous,” Fox said. “Then there’s the five percent over the conflict.”
Fox referred to the discussions – often heated – related to what current Chairman Arthur Pinell and Fox have maintained are conflicts of interest between Selectwoman Tracy Cesan, a full-time town employee, and Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart.
“We need to get out of micromanaging and get on to the larger issues of the town,” said Fox.
Finance Committee Chairman Robert Horacek said he was “very happy” with the election outcome and noted there remain unresolved issues.
“Hopefully they can be amicably resolved,” he said.
State Rep. Nicholas Boldyga was at Deedy’s victory celebration and said he looks forward to working with him.
“He worked very hard and I think he will do great things for the residents of Southwick,” said Boldyga.
Although Phelps did not receive the results he hoped for, he thanked his supporters.
“I appreciate the support I received,” he said. “Running as an unenrolled candidate is very challenging.”
Phelps said he enjoyed his campaign.
“I visited over 30 neighborhoods and talked with people who were happy to see me – that was very enjoyable,” said Phelps.
Phelps, Southwick’s retired town planner, said his immediate plans are to visit his daughter and grandson in Maryland, and after that, he doesn’t know what will follow.
“There are plenty of things ahead of me,” he said.
Deedy will be sworn-in at the end of the May 21 Town Meeting.
