On behalf of the Chester Republican Town Committee, I would like to thank Tom Englert for his dedication and service as our town selectman and his wife, Terry, for her unwavering support of his faithful volunteer spirit.

Earlier this year, Tom announced he would not seek re-election for Selectman. Tom’s many successful years of selectman service go back to 2009 when he was first elected to the Board of Selectman. In August of 2011, while holding down his full-time position at Whelen Engineering, Tom was asked to go one step further for the town. He was named interim first selectman after First Selectman Tom Marsh vacated the seat prematurely to accept a job out of state.

A true fiscal hawk, Tom analyzed every department budget submitted during the annual budget process to ensure the requests were reasonable, viable, and, most importantly, transparent to the Chester residents. He provided a balanced perspective on some of the town’s most challenging topics. In August 2011, after the arrival of Hurricane Irene, Tom worked with the Emergency Management Team to ensure all residents knew that John Winthrop Middle School was the regional emergency shelter by using creative communication tactics. Working tirelessly during those waning hours and days, he ensured everyone had the opportunity to find shelter. Coordinating with the utility companies and emergency management teams, and all the while fielding resident concerns, Tom made sure Chester got back up and running.

Thank you, Tom, for being a faithful steward and friend of the Town of Chester and all its residents. You’ve earned this town’s heartfelt gratitude. We wish you and Terry all the best.

Carolyn Kane, Chairman

Chester Republican Town Committee