HUNTINGTON – Three residents are running for the office of Town Clerk in Saturday’s town-wide election. The position became available in March when former town clerk and tax collector Andrea McKittrick resigned, citing personal reasons. Kathleen Thomas, who served as assistant town clerk under McKittrick was named interim town clerk, and is one of those running for the elected office. Also running is former town clerk Judith Guyette, and Melissa Reid, a lifelong resident of the town and member of the Board of Health.
Kathleen Thomas
In her candidate’s statement, Kathleen Thomas said she has been a resident of Huntington for 28 years. “During these years, I’ve been a wife, mother, aide in Gateway, housekeeper for my church, and served as Assistant Town Clerk for the past seven years,” she said.
In addition to that position, she also had the “honor and pleasure of serving as Election Clerk,” presiding over national and local elections.
“Serving as Assistant Town Clerk has enriched my life in many different ways. I never knew just how much a Town Clerk actually does until I started as an assistant. I love every part of it! It is a challenging, widely diverse job. The best part is getting to know and serve the people of our town,” Thomas said.
Due to recent events, Thomas said she was appointed as interim town clerk. “Because of this, the Office of Town Clerk will be on the ballot this year at our Annual Town Election. I am running for Town Clerk and would love to continue to serve Huntington in this capacity,” she said, reminding voters that the Town Election is on Saturday, May 20th from 10AM-2PM in Stanton Hall.
Judith Guyette
Judith Guyette has been a resident of Huntington for 47 years, serving as town clerk from 1983 to 2003. Guyette is retired from UMass, and said she spent the last ten years traveling. “Now we’re home,” she added. Guyette said she was approached by several people in town to run for the office.
“I like that whole social interaction. It pleases me to be able to help people. I met a lot of wonderful people, and made a lot of lifelong friends. I look forward to that again,” Guyette said about her decision to run.
In her candidate statement, she talked about her years in the office. “Perhaps you attended one of my “Shoot yer Cats ‘n Dogs Rabies Clinics”…or received from me a complimentary birth certificate on the arrival of your new little family member. We might have shared a hug as you received a death record of a loved one – or, a glass of champagne as we planned your wedding ceremony and processed your marriage license! You might be one of those guys who arrived at my house every January lst for a fishing license and a celebratory New Year libation. Perhaps you registered to vote on my kitchen table,” she said.
Guyette said her office was the first in town to be computerized, at her own expense. “It delights me to see the technological advances that Huntington has made to present,” she added.
Having served as town clerk, former member of the Board of Selectmen, County Commissioner, chair of the Computer Committee, member of the Personnel Committee, chair of the Board of Registrars, Head Election official, Census Administrator, Liaisons to the Secretary of State’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Division of Vital Statistics in Boston, Justice of the Peace and Notary Public…and currently serving as the chair of the Alphonso P. Pettis Fund, “it pleases me to offer my vast experience in municipal government in return for your consideration and your vote at our Annual Town Election,” Guyette said.
Melissa Reid
Melissa Reid, the third candidate for town clerk, is a lifelong resident of Huntington, raised in the same house where she is now raising her own children. She has run Melissa’s Family Day Care in Huntington for the past thirteen years.
Reid said she has been very active in the community and an active participant in community events for years. She said she recently started to get involved with town offices, serving on the Board of Health since 2015. This past spring, Reid attended the Public Records training for town officials, which she said directly pertains to the office of town clerk.
Reid is also a member of the Southern Hilltowns Domestic Violence Task Force.
“I’m committed to the town, and to small town living. I want my children to experience what I experienced. Small town life is disappearing. I have to be involved in that – I can’t just be a resident,” Reid said. She said she also believes in the adage that “it takes a village to raise a child.”
Reid said she intends to serve the community with integrity, and thanks everyone for their support.
