[{"_1":2,"_74":-5,"_75":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6412304,"mediaKeyId","3283324-5e2e8627c42ea270a2673f7d9e1676b4","parentId",3283324,"title","Templeton select board and moderator candidates stress budget oversight, infrastructure and transparency ahead of May election","audioSeconds",1014,"startMs",24620,"endMs",1039340,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3283324-5e2e8627c42ea270a2673f7d9e1676b4&start=24&end=1039","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3283324-5e2e8627c42ea270a2673f7d9e1676b4/thumbnail_24620.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6412304/Templeton-select-board-and-moderator-candidates-stress-budget-oversight-infrastructure-and-transparency-ahead-of-May-election","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6412304-dae5d3bde7bd30b3e7d53c260f10b627/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142475&Signature=eqPVOlAdoO5q3DJ4RP93HhbJJjz4KKnboBde8GYzbB1VwfRYpeWqH4KLJNDzdiOQ48y3soV98srk2ZF3-YhobAQNMgP6CO5HvXqGH2OHD98uqoW7fFM7YXljYHUHVBiKZO19obCyHf7gC9b1I1GmXOCJKvL7zib8oynOy8-1UrlFYEQfVI-k4kaNYtr~SdLVp0P06d7dQ~6VduPITDf821lFqgGJfztKD5uV7h9xtPZUAwvvg4mM7vfO~bdDAUtSa1Rywp5FYh6abDfg0AnyIvQsUckKNLXjjTebW8SsL~tcNWcWwC0H4MqDWkwbpFWcPU3fr6eWUaL25wXuZ4s99w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Templeton, MA","date","2025-05-12T22:00:48Z","article","Templeton residents heard a slate of candidates outline priorities for town government and town meeting procedures during a public forum. The statements, given by candidates for the Select Board and for town moderator, emphasized fiscal oversight, infrastructure needs, and efforts to increase resident participation ahead of the May town election.

Bob May, who is running for Selectman, said he would prioritize improved adherence to “policies, procedures, bylaws, and the following of them so that the taxpayers can gauge what's going to happen at the meetings.” May added that “the budget needs a little bit more review than it's been getting lately.”

Candace Graves, a candidate for the Select Board and current chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, said she has served on the community preservation committee and managed commission budgets. She said her volunteer and management experience — including organizing the Greater Gardner Turkey Trot and serving as Parks and Recreation chair — informs her campaign: “I would like the chance to serve all of the town residents and help the employees make it happen.” Graves urged voters to attend town meeting on May 14 at 6 p.m. at Narragansett and to vote in the town election on May 19.

Lisa Basso, running for a one-year Select Board term, framed her candidacy around infrastructure and fiscal responsibility. A U.S. Army veteran with more than 15 years' experience in bridge construction and project management, Basso said, “We can't make those improvements without a strong responsible budget guiding the way,” and described experience managing budgets and coordinating with state and local agencies.

Faith Curcio, also running for a one-year Select Board term, said she would focus on budgeting and preserving town services. Curcio cited 17 years in property management and prior service on an advisory committee as experience she would bring to budget oversight.

Incumbent John Graves, who is seeking another term as town moderator, described procedural changes he has implemented to encourage attendance and protect privacy at town meetings. Graves said he worked with town counsel to remove the requirement that residents share their street number when speaking, so residents “still have to give your name and street, but you don't have to give your number.” He said he enforces a three-times, two-minute rule for speakers and said of town meeting turnout: “You're letting 70 people decide what's gonna happen really.”

On voting procedures, Graves described a proposed bylaw change (one of the draft articles to be considered by town meeting) to permit electronic voting at town meeting. He said the change would allow anonymous voting and that “it'll be a push button system. You'll be able to vote yes, no, or abstain ... and, again, this is up to town meeting.”

Taken together, candidates presented recurring themes: calls for closer budget scrutiny, more transparent communication between town government and residents, and attention to roads and public buildings. Several candidates also urged greater public participation at town meeting and in the May election.

The statements reported here were limited to candidates' campaign remarks and procedural descriptions; no formal votes or board decisions were recorded in this forum.

Looking ahead, the candidates named May 14 (town meeting at Narragansett, 6 p.m.) and the town election on May 19 as immediate civic dates. Voters seeking more detail on any candidate's platform should consult candidate filings and campaign materials for dates, locations and full proposals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Meet the Candidates: Templeton Annual Election 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Templeton residents heard a slate of candidates outline priorities for town government and town meeting procedures during a public forum.","taxTitle","taxId",0,"location","headline","","shortSummary","actionData","errors"]

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Templeton select board and moderator candidates stress budget oversight, infrastructure and transparency ahead of May election