Two candidates race for Board of Health seat

MATTAPOISETT — Two candidates are running for an open seat on the Board of Health, a one-year term vacated by a former member last year.

After a debate between residents and officials about who should fill an open position on the Mattapoisett Board of Health, the Select Board decided the decision should be left to residents.

Kathy Eklund and Michael King are running for the seat, vacated by former member Alexandria Nicolosi when she moved, in the Tuesday, May 19 election. 

Kathy Eklund, who was previously considered for appointment to the board, said people encouraged her to submit an application because members of the board didn’t have experience in public health and disease control, something she has professional experience in. 

“Because of my background and my professional experience, I was approached to submit for the appointment,” she said. “When that didn’t happen, I decided that I would actually run for the position.”

Eklund holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, a master’s degree in health health policy and administration and is certified in dental hygiene. 

She is currently the director of the occupational health and safety program at the Forsyth Institute, a research institute in Somerville. She oversees environmental health and safety, which includes emergency preparedness and response initiatives.

If elected, she said her focus would be on securing funding for health initiatives in the town using her experience in grant writing. She said grant opportunities from the state that could fund things like vaccination clinics and support for the town’s public health nurses.

Eklund has lived in Mattapoisett since 1988, and said she loves it so much she is willing to drive 67 miles back and forth to work each day. 

“I really love and care for Mattapoisett and appreciate the community, so I just really felt I could possibly give back a little bit,” she said.

Michael King said he has extensive experience in health and safety he could bring to the Board of Health, and believes he would contribute positively in the role. 

“I think for 12 months I could be effective, and I just ask for the residents that would agree with that to cast their ballot for King for Board of Health,” he said.

If elected, King said he will reevaluate if he wants to continue on the board or run for another position such as a seat on the Select Board.

The lifelong Mattapoisett resident brings a background in fishing, occupational safety and farming. He said he learned about health and safety regulations through his previous jobs, as well as his time on the Conservation Commission. 

He said this experience would equip him to “hit the ground running,” especially important in an abbreviated term. 

He said he brings a different set of experiences than Eklund, whose qualifications he compared to the public health nurse position.

“Not that she’s not qualified, but in terms of the day to day business and operation — the nuts and bolts of what the Board of Health does — I feel that I’m able to contribute in that area,” he said.