Selectman Caroline Fedele Will Not Seek a Third Term

By Caroline Fedele

Selectman Caroline Fedele – Courtesy image, all rights reserved

At last night’s Selectmen’s meeting, I officially announced that I will not run for re-election in March for a third term as a Bedford Selectman.

Over the past year, I have started a new job that brings along with it more travel and longer days. In addition, my parents are now my neighbors and my children are teenagers. Family time has always been my priority and at this stage, the next few years are incredibly important ones to be present here at home. Unfortunately, there are not enough hours in the day to do all things well with my day job, my family life and serving you as a Selectman. I’ve done my best to balance but in the end, I respect this role so very much and want to allow someone else the opportunity to be able to give it the time it requires to serve you well.

I feel honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve Bedford for the past 6 years. It was a very fulfilling role for me as a life-long resident to give back to the town I love and to all of my Bedford neighbors whom I consider friends. Through 6 years and 12 Town Meetings, we, as a Board, worked hard to make sound decisions for Bedford and personally, I tried hard to listen to what the residents wanted along the way and do my best to deliver that when possible. Being approachable and responsive, a good listener and thoughtful communicator are important to me and I am confident I served the town well in these ways.

Thank you to my fellow Selectmen for their dedication and professionalism through these years. I feel we all balanced each other well, each of us slightly different in thought but all very similarly grounded in our love of Bedford, commitment to the responsibility of serving and mutual respect for one another. I will miss our many meetings…well, some of them at least.

Thank you to Rick Reed for his dedication and support as Town Manager for most of my time as a Selectman. To Sarah Stanton — I am so very pleased you chose Bedford. I was confident in my support for you as a candidate and so happy to see your first few months getting under your belt. You are an incredibly impressive Town Manager and I am excited to watch as you continue doing the great work you have already started for Bedford. To the best town staff around — thank you for all you do every day, always responsive and professional. The Town of Bedford is extremely lucky to have you all.

As I finish out my term over the next few months and beyond, I am hopeful that an excellent candidate will surface for the Board of Selectmen and many other volunteer opportunities in this great Town of Bedford. It is, after all, the many, many volunteers on our Town committees and boards that do the behind-the-scenes work each week to make Bedford what it is today.

Although this sounds like a goodbye, it is more of a see you soon. I plan on staying involved in smaller roles yet to be determined and I am sure many of our paths will cross again.

Happy Holidays to each and every one of you!