Thomas Hurley announces he will not run for re-election to Milton Board of Selectmen

Contributed by Tom Hurley.

It is with mixed emotions that I am announcing that I will not be a candidate for reelection to the Milton Board of Selectmen. I want to thank the residents of Milton who have shown their support and respect over these past six years. You have all been great. I started this journey into town government about eleven years ago when I joined the Warrant Committee. Jim Mullen called me and asked if I would be willing to serve on the Warrant Committee. I think at the time it was both a moment of weakness and a desire to give something back to the Town that I was born as raised in and have lived in most of my life that made me say yes. I figured that I would give a couple of years to the Warrant Committee and then get on with my business and personal life.

I was mistaken.

The more I got to know town government and the hard working people who make it run and the more I got to know so many more residents that deeply cared about this Town — I knew that I was hooked. After five years on the Warrant Committee, two years as its chair, I decided to see what life was like as an elected official and ran for Selectman. I have to tell you that it has been right up there with some of the most fulfilling thing in my life. I am proud to have served as your Selectman. I have always tried to do and support what I believed to be right and in the best interest of the Town. I hope that I have in some small way made a difference.

I am proud to have served as your Selectman. I have always tried to do and support what I believed to be right and in the best interest of the Town. I hope that I have in some small way made a difference.

As I approach my 67th year on this planet it is time for me to take stock of the past 45 years raising a family with my wife and growing a small business. It is time for my wife Kathie and I to look forward and plan what will hopefully be the next 20 or more years of a bit more leisurely life. As I make that transition there will be a lot of planning that I will have to do to transition my business to a new generation and help to ensure that it will endure and thrive. I feel that it would be difficult over the next three years to give the commitment necessary to be a good and effective selectman and do what is necessary to accomplish my personal goals.

This is a great Town with so many bright and energetic residents who volunteer their time to so many governmental and civic endeavors. I feel confident that there will be very qualified people who will step forward to replace me. They will add a new perspective to the Board that will help the Town maintain its charm, character and beauty while helping to shape the policies necessary to maintain fiscal stability and operational effectiveness.