Six candidates run for three Mattapoisett Select Board openings

MATTAPOISETT — After Governor Maura Healey signed a bill last year expanding the Mattapoisett Select Board, two new seats are up for election this year along with a third open position.

Six candidates are currently running for these three seats, and voters will determine who fills them Tuesday, May 19 at town elections. 

Eric Beauregard has been in the military for 22 years, and recently returned to Mattapoisett as a full-time resident after growing up in town. He said he wants to ensure affordable housing and strategic planning if he is elected.

“I care deeply about the future of Mattapoisett,” Beauregard said. “The town should be in control of its growth, making careful decisions with major projects like our schools and essentially protect our long term financial stability.”

He said he believes it is important for the community to be involved in town government, and that “unity is our strongest asset as a town.”

Frances-Feliz Kearns has been on the Old Rochester Regional School Committee for six years, and said with this experience she is prepared to join the Select Board as well.

She said environmental concerns and financial responsibility are her top priorities to address if she is elected.

“I am a resident of the town. I want to see its success,” Kearns said. “I think that, coupled with my work on the school board and other organizations I volunteer for, such as the board of the Friends of Library, is a great way to connect all the pieces together.”

James Harlfinger has been a Mattapoisett firefighter for over 20 years and has been a full-time resident for just as long. 

He said he wants to help move the town forward while maintaining its character.

“I truly want to do the best I can for Mattapoisett, keep it the town it is — a nice, quaint sea town,” Harlfinger said. “I'm here for everybody and anybody. Should I become a member of the Select Board, they can call anytime.”

Judy Mooney has lived in Mattapoisett for over 40 years and worked in municipal government for much of that time. She served as the Marion assistant town administrator and the finance director for Mattapoisett and Marion, as well as several Mattapoisett committees. 

Mooney wants to focus on financial concerns if she joins the Select Board, and she said her municipal experience would help inform that work.

“I have an appreciation for this town. They've been so sweet to us,” she said. “They've given a lot to us, so I think this is a perfect opportunity for me to be able to give back to the community.”

Ned Kaiser co-owns the Mattapoisett Boatyard and said after seeing how the town supported him and the business after a devastating fire in 2024, he is ready to give back.

“The way that this town and everybody in it gave back to us really spoke to how amazing it is,” Kaiser said. “During the rebuilding process, I've gotten to work very closely with numerous town departments, and have gained a pretty good idea of how all that works.”

He said as a Select Board member, he would prioritize maintaining town property and infrastructure instead of waiting until repairs or replacements become necessary. 

Nicole Doyon Lynch said she wants to join the Select Board as a way to get more involved with the town and has been attending meetings and talking with town leaders. 

“When they expanded the Select Board I thought ‘This would be a great opportunity,’” She said. “I started to have even more conversations, and the more people I talked to, the more excited I got about the potential impact I could have on the town that I love so much.”

She has a background in sales and leadership roles, which she said has taught her how to advocate for her clients’ needs and would translate to a role on the board.

She said she wants to represent the people of the town as a Select Board member, and sees supporting the school system and first responders as top priorities, along with involving more community members.