Springfield's Hinckley to run for select board

David Hinckley wants to run for the Springfield Select Board to keep Springfield’s momentum going.

   

Springfield's Hinckley to run for select board December 15,2016 By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — David Hinckley wants to run for the Springfield Select Board to keep Springfield’s momentum going. Hinckley, 25, who ran unsuccessfully in the Vermont Democratic primary for one of Springfield’s two House seats, has taken out a petition for one of the two Select Board seats open in March. Selectman George McNaughton is not running for re-election, and current Select Board Chairman Kristi Morris is expected to seek another seat. Randy Gray has also taken out a petition, said Town Clerk Barbara Courchesne. But Hinckley said in an interview Wednesday that he supported the proposed changes to the downtown area, including narrowing Clinton Street and installing landscaping, as well as a roundabout at the intersection of Main, Clinton and South streets. Hinckley lives on Southridge Street, and he said he navigates the intersection several times a day. A roundabout would be a big safety improvement, he said. The proposed work on Clinton Street would make Springfield more attractive to newcomers, he said, and would also protect existing homeowners’ property values. “We really need to move forward,” he said. He said he is worried that the positive changes he sees will “stall” without strong support from the Select Board. “We need to keep pushing,” he said. He said to be fiscally responsible, he said the various projects would likely need to be phased in over a number of years. “Yes, it’s going to cost money, but most of it will come from federal and state grants,” he said. Hinckley said he supports the current board’s effort to crack down on blight and crime in the downtown area, and he said he’s noticed a marked improvement in the amount of criminal activity in downtown Springfield. Before he got involved in U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign last year, Hinckley ran a coffee and ice cream shop downtown. He’s also run an espresso bar in New York City. Hinckley grew up in neighboring Chester, and has lived in Springfield ever since he graduated from high school at the Compass School in Westminster. He also attended the River Valley Technical Center at Springfield High School, studying hospitality and recreation management, and communications, and took courses at Community College of Vermont. The past year, he’s been immersed in presidential politics, working for Sanders’ presidential campaign, first in New Hampshire, and then Vermont, Massachusetts, Ohio and New York. When Sanders’ campaign ended, he worked in Ohio, this time for moveon.org, then returned to his hometown, convinced that Springfield is where he wanted to be. “Vermont was always home,” he said. “I’m a recovering political consultant,” he said, laughing. He said he plans to start knocking on doors after the holidays. In high school, he worked at Shaw’s in Springfield and then was the manager at the Friendly’s restaurant in the Springfield Shopping Plaza. “Chances are I’ve cooked your food or bagged your groceries,” he said.