Mathew Often jumps into Grafton Select Board race

Current Finance Committee Chair Mathew Often has pulled papers for a seat on Grafton’s Select Board, making it a three-person race for two Select Board seats in the May 19 Town Election.

Often will face current Select Board Chairperson Jennifer Thomas and new Select Board member Donna Stock.

Often has served on Grafton’s Finance Committee for three years and has been their representative on the Capital Improvement Planning Committee. Prior to that he was an associate member of the Grafton Planning Board and treasurer for Yes Grafton, a ballot advocacy group for the 2014 override. He has also volunteered as a Cub Scout leader in Grafton’s Pack 107.

“Grafton is facing several fiscal challenges over the next few years,” Often said in a news release. “The time is now for the leaders on our Executive Board to be decisive and work together to help guide our town through the next decade and beyond.

“I’m a strong advocate for public education,” he added. “We need to reach out to our community directly to learn their priorities about what they want from Grafton as a place to live, raise their family and retire in.  I have been an active participant in Grafton’s local government for several years and I would make a real difference on the Select Board. I look to bring my knowledge of budgeting and forecasting, passion for capital planning and ability to work with others to the Board.”

A Massachusetts native, Often has lived in Grafton for more than 18 years with his wife, School Committee Chairperson Laura Often, and two children. He currently serves as Director of Enterprise IT Access and Collaboration for Informa, a leading international events, intelligence and scholarly research group. At Informa, Often manages a multimillion dollar budget and team of internationally-based people to run Informa’s IT department.

Often has set up a campaign page at facebook.com/oftenselectboard.