Corrected and updated Dec. 12, 2023
Voting began this week to fill four open seats on the Devens Committee and the Devens Education Advisory Committee, two volunteer boards created in 1994 to advise MassDevelopment—the agency that oversees the development of the former U.S. Army base—on the delivery of municipal services and education.
Ralph Fehlberg and Laura Scott, both of Walnut Street and both former Harvard residents, are running to fill two soon-to-be-open seats on the Devens Committee. The three-year terms of Chetan Mistry and Bill Duston expire this month. Mistry has decided not to run again and Duston resigned earlier this year.
Jesse Lowe of Chance Street, whose current two-year term on the DEAC expires this month, is running for reelection. The term of Maureen Babcock, current DEAC chair and longtime member, also ends this month; she will not seek reelection. Fahima Shaik of Bradley Circle is a write-in candidate.
Statements provided to the Press by the declared candidates appear below. So far, none of the four open seats is contested when this issue of the Press was being prepared.
To vote, a resident must have registered with MassDevelopment by mail or in person by Nov. 27. Registration forms were mailed to every household Nov. 9. Ballots were mailed to registered voters this week and must be returned to MassDevelopment by mail or by hand no later than 5 p.m. Dec. 15. Ballots received after that deadline will not be counted. Results will be emailed to residents Dec. 22.
Last year’s election, following a door-to-door campaign by Devens Connect, a resident advocacy group, drew 96 of 208 registered voters (44% turnout) to choose among five candidates for two seats on the Devens Committee and three candidates for two seats on the DEAC. John Katter, a member of the Devens Connect steering committee, said the organization hoped its effort to register voters last year would carry over to the current year.
“We feel strongly … that an engaged electorate is critical to our future,” he wrote in an email. “Regardless of what position residents have, they need to make their voices heard not only through voting for Devens Committee and DEAC members but also through all other channels. These can include attending Devens Connect meetings as well as engaging with the entities here on Devens that impact us.” He added: “Equally important is engaging with and petitioning our legislators and executive branch as every citizen of the Commonwealth has the right to do.”
The Devens Committee was created by a memorandum of understanding signed by MassDevelopment and the select boards of Ayer, Harvard, and Shirley to assure residents a means to advise MassDevelopment on its delivery of municipal services. The committee consists of five members who meet monthly, in person, with MassDevelopment staff at the agency’s headquarters on Andrews Parkway. The meetings are typically attended by Meg Delorier as acting executive vice president of Devens and the heads of the Devens DPW, fire, and police departments. Issues discussed at recent meetings have ranged from truck traffic to redevelopment of Vicksburg Square and future disposition.
The DEAC was established by Chapter 498, the legislation that created Devens, “[F]or the purposes of providing advice and consultation to [MassDevelopment] regarding educational and education-related issues and concerns pertaining to persons who reside at Devens.” The committee includes four elected resident representatives—two of whom must be parents of school-aged children—and one member from each of the school committees of Ayer Shirley Regional School District and Harvard.
Devens candidates state their reasons for running
The Press invited the candidates who submitted nomination papers to MassDevelopment to introduce themselves and explain their reasons for running. Here are their statements.
Ralph Fehlberg, candidate for Devens Committee
I am fortunate to have moved to Devens last year after living in Harvard for 15 years. I retired from the U.S. Army in 2011 and have been working as a farmer, stay-at-home dad, Scout leader (Eagle Scout 1976) and office manager for a solar engineering firm since then. My wife and I have a son who is enrolled at the Parker Essential Charter School. We are excited and glad to be living in Devens; it is a great community. Given my background I would like to be able to contribute to both the present and future well-being of our Devens community. That is why I am running for the Devens Committee.
Laura Scott, candidate for Devens Committee
After living in Harvard for 15 years, my family was lucky enough to find a beautiful home in Devens last year. I am grateful for the pristine grounds, exceptional educational options, high level of security, low utility rates, and wonderful neighbors that are Devens. I would like to help ensure these outstanding features remain available to Devens residents in the future. With a background in finance and energy, I currently manage the power supply for the town of Concord. I hope to enhance the Devens Committee by making meetings more accessible to the residents so that all voices are heard and concerns addressed.
Jesse Lowe, candidate for Devens Education Advisory Committee
My name is Jesse Lowe and I am running to serve another term with the DEAC.
Over the past two years, I have acted as secretary for the DEAC, and as such, as a liaison with MassDevelopment. I have focused on addressing parent feedback and advocating for Devens students within the context of our school contract with Harvard Public Schools. I’ve also made an effort to stay abreast of other educational options available to our students, such as the Parker Charter School and Monty Tech.
In addition to my experience on the DEAC, I have a wealth of education experience to draw upon. After moving to Devens in 2016, I home-schooled my children for several years, creating unit studies and integrating elements of diverse curricula with state curriculum standards in mind. I currently have one child enrolled at Parker, and another at Bromfield. I am the SEPAC (Special Education Parents’ Advisory Committee) chair at Parker and participate in Harvard SEPAC meetings.
I have taught preschool and kindergarten, been a classroom teacher at a rural, mixed-age schoolhouse, worked as a counselor at a therapeutic school, and assessed and worked with young children and families through early intervention. I hold a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, am certified in family mediation, and am in the process of training as a structured literacy specialist.
I have a dyslexic child who has been fortunate to receive research-backed, remedial tutoring in reading, and is now a thriving reader. I’ve looked into how reading is taught and supported, both at Parker and in the Harvard Public Schools. I feel I have more to give within DEAC and graciously ask for your vote.
Fahima Shaik, write-in candidate for Devens Education Advisory Committee
My family and I moved to Devens in 2021 after living in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and a few cities in Massachusetts. My husband and I are originally from India. I have a bachelor's degree in computers and a master's in computer applications. Presently I'm a stay-at-home mom who's considering re-entering the workforce now that both of my children are in school (Bromfield Middle and Hildreth). We love our neighbors and the community of Devens and we're grateful to be a part of the Harvard Public Schools. I was asked if I would be interested in serving on the DEAC and after learning more I would welcome the opportunity. As a mom, I always try to do what's best for my kids and if you write my name in on your ballot, I would continue to do that for all of the children and families of Devens. Lastly, because we're looking to build roots and relationships here, I would work to do that with my fellow members of the DEAC and the representatives from MassDevelopment and the Harvard Public Schools. Please consider voting for me by writing in my name, Fahima Shaik, and address, 16 Bradley Circle, on your ballot.
Editor's note: This article has been corrected and updated to include a statement from Fahima Shaik, a write-in candidate for the DEAC.
