Three candidates vying for open Raynham selectmen's seat. See who's running.

Raynham’s 2023 Annual Town Election is coming up on Saturday April 22.

Arguably the biggest race this year is for a vacant seat on the Board of Selectmen. Selectman Chair Richard Schiavo announced he is not seeking re-election.

Schiavo, altogether, has served six years as a selectman, from 2012-2015 and 2020-2023. On why he isn't running, Schiavo said he wants to step back and give the opportunity for new people to serve.

“Let the new blood in. I believe it’s good to get new ideas and fresh perspectives," said Schiavo, who has also previously served on the Capital Planning Committee, the Finance Committee and the Sewer Commission.

Schiavo added he plans on staying involved in community affairs in other ways, possibly through a committee in the future.

There are three candidates vying for the open Raynham selectmen's seat. The Gazette reached out to all three candidates to let them tell the town of Raynham who they are and why they should be selectman.

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Selectman candidate: Becky Mello

Becky Mello, since 2019, has served as senior clerk for the town of Dighton, working in both the Treasurer/Collector’s Office and the Town Clerk’s Office.

“I have been contemplating running for several years and now I feel it is the right time for me to serve our community in this capacity,” said Mello.

Mello has bachelor of science and master’s degrees in public policy from UMass Dartmouth, as well as a paralegal certification from Northeastern University.  She is also continuing her education with further courses on public policy and management at UMass Dartmouth.

Prior to working in municipal government, Mello worked in real estate and as a paralegal.

She says what makes her a strong candidate is she’s hardworking, takes her commitments seriously and understands the importance of compromise and trying to understand opposing views when it comes to serving the greater good for the community.

Mello currently serves on Raynham's Cable Commission, the town's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and as a volunteer/board member for the Raynham Association for Volunteers for Education (RAVE).

She is especially proud of her service the last 20 years with Raynham’s Girl Scouts Service Unit, having just about every adult role that exists in that organization, she said.

As a selectman, Mello said she would be focused on the town's financial stability.

“I would like to be a part of the solution and find ways to keep what we have now and also find the balance to keep up with the population growth, without losing any services provided by or offered through the town,” she said.

Other goals for Mello include increasing transparency amongst the town's boards and committees and finding economical solutions to fund maintenance and upgrades to aging infrastructure.

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Selectman candidate: Christopher Shaw

Christopher Shaw, since 2019, has worked as a risk manager for Wellpath Care at Bridgewater State Hospital.

Starting in his youth, from 1985-2015, Shaw served in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, rising to the rank of staff sergeant. Shortly after enlisting, Shaw also began a career in criminal justice.

He first served as a corrections officer at Southeastern Correctional Center in Bridgewater for eight years. While a corrections officer, he started working part-time as a police officer for Bridgewater. Shaw would leave the Correctional Center in 1995 to work full-time with Bridgewater PD, rising to the ranks of detective and as police prosecutor, representing the town in Brockton District Court. He retired from the department in 2019.

During this time, he also earned a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from Western New England University.

Shaw said he is running for selectman to offer his "experience as a public employee of over 37 years, with an unwavering love" of his community.

Shaw has been commissioner for the Parks and Recreation Department in Raynham since 2005.

He also has been involved in youth sports in Raynham for years, serving as a coach from 1998-2016, as well as holding board positions for the Raynham Giants and youth baseball and softball leagues.

Shaw has the town’s budget at the top of his priority list.

“I understand what a budget means and living within your means,” he said, adding that he has the “experience of being a municipal employee during devastating budget cuts” and doesn’t want to sit by and watch “divided departments cutting each other’s throats” during these times.

Shaw said he also wants to ensure the Public Safety Complex for Raynham Police and Fire moves forward.

Selectman candidate: Kenneth Collins

Ken Collins has worked since 2016 for National Grid, first as a metering services supervisor, and currently as a senior field representative.

Prior to National Grid, Collins worked 13 years in the Raynham Police Department. He served primarily as a patrol officer, but also held the positions of K-9 handler, field training officer and member of the Special Response Team.

He holds a master of science in criminal justice from Western New England University in Springfield, as well as bachelor's in sociology from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.

Collins said he’s been approached countless times from current and past town employees about running for selectman and said there has been an "outpouring of support" from the Raynham community for his candidacy.

He explains he wants to “bring a direct, honest and transparent approach to town politics, operations and departments all in an effort to best serve the community.”

Besides his communication and problem-solving skills he utilizes daily for his profession, Collins said he believes his leadership skills will be key to serving Raynham over his tenure, if elected to the Select Board.

“Politicians are being rewarded for digging in their heals and taking non-negotiable stances. I believe in the opposite. Compromise is not weak. We need leadership that can bring the opposing sides closer together,” he said.

Issues Collins is passionate about in Raynham concern improving employee retention and increasing overall transparency across town operations, he said.

“I will do all I can to make sure the town employees’ voices are heard,” he said.

This transparency, he said, extends to the commercial and industrial expansion of the town, which, he believes, needs a long-term plan that promotes sustainable growth. 

Candidates night forum

Town Moderator John Donahue announced a candidates night forum will take place Thursday evening, April 13 in the Selectmen's Meeting Room at Raynham Town Hall and will be open to the public. While the forum will be broadcast live on Raynham's Public Access Cable channels, the event will also be recorded for residents to watch on playback online. All three selectman candidates have agreed to participate.

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Raynham Town Election 2023: Here are the selectmen candidates