Richard Cabelus announced Friday evening, April 11, that he is dropping out of the race for one of two open seats on the Select Board.
“Harboring the same concerns as former Select Board member Rich Maiore, and against my better judgment, I nonetheless submitted signatures as a candidate for Select Board. I regret this decision and withdraw my candidacy. Please do not vote for me or consider me a candidate on the ballot. If elected I will not serve.”
Cabelus offered little explanation for his decision, citing uncivil behavior by unnamed parties as his primary motivation. “Although civility and inclusion are often espoused values in town, as they should be, unfortunately, as of late there are some who have not practiced what they preach, making engagement in Town affairs no longer an enjoyable or rewarding experience. As such I withdraw from such engagement,” he wrote. The Press asked for further comment but as of Sunday morning had received none.
Two weeks ago, Rich Maiore resigned his seat as a member of the Select Board citing similar reasons for his withdrawal. In a statement provided to the Press April 1, he wrote: “These past few months, I have found myself increasingly disheartened by the conduct I’ve witnessed in town affairs. To me it’s incredibly gratifying to work with a range of neighbors on challenges facing the town—such as the budget, playing fields, C-District. That enjoyment has diminished recently due to rising levels of acrimony and self-interests. It’s not fun anymore.”
The remaining candidates for the two open seats on the Select Board are Don Ludwig, Ahmet Corapcioglu, and Eve Wittenberg. Town Election is Tuesday, May 6.
