2 BLACKSTONE
APRIL 1-7, 2021 | VALLEY BREEZE | NORTH SMITHFIELD BLACKSTONE WOONSOCKET EDITION
BLACKSTONE – Residents of
Blackstone will head to the polls
for the annual town election this
Monday, April 5.
The top races this year include
two open seats on the Board of
Selectmen. Former Selectman
Ryan Chamberland is challenging
Selectman Daniel Keefe for his seat,
while political newcomers Ryan
Barry and Tanya Polak are facing off
for the unexpired term vacated by
Taylor Greene earlier this year.
Voters will also choose a Blackstone
representative for the Blackstone-
Millville Regional School Committee,
with Keri Gaudette and Timothy
Howell facing off for the seat.
The ballot also includes sev-
eral uncontested races and a vacant
School Committee seat that drew no
candidates and expires next year.
The four candidates for Board of
Selectmen faced off during an event
hosted by John Eldridge on the local
cable channel last week. Candidates
shared their views on finances,
regionalization, transparency and
town hiring practices.
Polak has focused her campaign
around accountability and creating
better processes for government deci-
sions, while Barry has emphasized
town infrastructure and said he was
inspired to run after a failed attempt
to recall Board Chairman Robert
Dubois last year.
Like Polak, Chamberland has tried
to position himself as a candidate for
change and accountability in addition
to lowering taxes, while Keefe has
highlighted his accomplishments on
the board over the past six years.
Polling locations will be open from
7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents who chose
to vote by mail must return their mail
ballot by Monday at 8 p.m.
The full list of candidates is as fol-
lows:
• Board of Assessors (three-year
term) – Franscena Schandelmayer-
Davis (incumbent)
• BMR District School Committee
(four-year term, Blackstone represen-
tative) – Keri Gaudette and Timothy
Howell
• BMR District School Committee
(unexpired four-year term expiring
2022, Blackstone representative) – no
candidates
• BMR District School Committee
(unexpired four-year term expiring
2024, Blackstone representative) –
Sarah Williams (incumbent)
• BMR District School Committee
(four-year term, Millville representa-
tive) – Amanda Guilmain
• Board of Health (three-year term)
– Peter Ryan Sr. (incumbent)
• Moderator (unexpired three-year
term expiring 2023) – John Wozniak
Blackstone town
election is Monday
By LAUREN CLEM
Valley Breeze Deputy Editor
lauren@valleybreeze.com
See ELECTION, Page 4
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