Four Truro residents vying for 2 Select Board seats. What you need to know.

The town of Truro will hold its annual town election on May 29. The race for two Select Board seats are contested. There is one ballot question.

Other positions on the ballot include three School Committee seats, two Library Trustee seats, a seat on the Cemetery Commission and a Planning Board position. The School Committee race is also technically contested, however, only incumbent Vida Richter appears on the ballot alongside three write-in slots.

Current Select Board members Kristen Reed and John Dundas are not running for reelection, and in their place Susan Girard-Irwin, Kevin Grunwald, Timothy Hickey and Nancy Medoff are the candidates seeking office. The Select Board seats are three-year terms.

Select Board

Nancy Medoff

Emphasizing the importance of community collaboration in tackling the town's challenges, Nancy Medoff said in an interview she is running on a platform focused on long-term planning through extensive community engagement. She said she aims to effectively and inclusively address taxes, water quality, housing, and infrastructure.

“I'm not a politician, this isn't a stepping stone for me, I have no personal agenda other than I love Truro and I care about the community,” Medoff said, emphasizing the importance of addressing the competing priorities facing Truro. “Who’s the quarterback? Who's pulling it together? Who's putting the jigsaw puzzle pieces together? That’s the role of the Select Board, to take all of this incredibly important work and pull it together with a plan.”

Medoff is coming into the race as a 25-year veteran of Marriott Hotels as a sales executive charged with team building and leading. Over the last few years, Medoff has chaired the Charter Review Committee, served on the Energy Committee and the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Kevin Grunwald

Bringing experience and dedication to community service, Kevin Grunwald has been a property owner in Truro since 1984, contributing to local organizations like Payomet, Truro Community Kitchen and Wellfleet Preservation Hall, according to his campaign website. Grunwald has been a full-time resident of Truro since 2013.

“Truro is a special place and we all love this town deeply,” Grunwald said in a statement on his website. “We have demonstrated a desire and an ability to care for this place. Our challenge is whether or not we can demonstrate an equal degree of caring for the people who live here.”

Grunwald has been a representative on the Cape Cod Commission since 2013, the chair of the Truro Housing Authority since 2016 and has also served on the Council on Aging board. His website said he is focused on maintaining the sustainability of Truro, addressing key areas such as housing, infrastructure, environment, and good governance.

Susan Girard-Irwin

Susan Girard-Irwin said she is pledging to be an engaged leader who listens to diverse perspectives and bases actions on science, data and citizen input. Her vision is to ensure Truro evolves into an innovative, sustainable community that supports a socio-economically and culturally diverse population of all ages.

“I just really think that we need a change on the Select Board, not one that shifts it from one perceived majority to another, but one where we could return to civility and respect and trust for one another,” Girard-Irwin said in an interview.

With a background as a board-certified toxicologist and leadership experience, Girard-Irwin said her platform will focus on seniors, housing, food insecurity, education and the environment. She serves as vice-chair of the Council on Aging board, co-chair of the Open Space Committee, and a member of the Community Preservation Committee.

Timothy Hickey

Timothy Hickey, a full time resident since 2020 who has been spending time in Truro since the 1970s, said on his campaign website he is focusing on affordable taxes, “attainable housing (on) a scale Truro needs and can afford,” and budget stabilization. He emphasized putting all major financial decisions in the hands of voters, advocating for complete transparency in governance to prevent misinformation.

“There is a great divide in Town,” Hickey said in a statement on his website. “As neighbors and colleagues experience and describe this divide to me, it is between Town Government and the citizens, not between any groups of citizens in Town. Citizens are clear about what they want, and it runs throughout the community. The Select Board is simply not listening or responding.”

Having observed town meetings closely, Hickey said on his website he believes the current Select Board and town manager are not listening to the community. He pledges to ensure that town government reflects the will of the voters, fostering an inclusive approach to decision-making and maintaining Truro’s unique character.

Ballot Question

The ballot question is a proposed charter amendment seeking to authorize the Town Manager to appoint the Library Director only after consultation with the Board of Library Trustees.

When? Where?

The Truro town election will take place on May 29 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Truro Community Center at 7 Standish Way in North Truro.

Walker Armstrong reports on all things Cape and Islands, primarily focusing on courts, transportation and the Joint Base Cape Cod military base. Contact him at WArmstrong@capecodonline.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jd__walker.

The  Cape Cod Times is providing this coverage for free as a public service. Please take a moment to support local journalism by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Truro Select Board race for two open seats draws four candidates