LtE: Karen Herrick for Select Board

To the Editor:

Reading’s town elections are in a few weeks, on April 7, 2026, and I’m pleased to voice my support for Karen Herrick for Select Board. I ask you to consider Karen’s considerable professional and personal qualifications, her experience and dedication supporting our town and community over the past 24 years, and I urge you to vote for Karen Herrick as well.

Karen has served on Reading’s Select Board since 2020. She and her husband have raised their daughter here through Reading schools from kindergarten through RMHS. With a master’s degree in business administration and 23 years as a small business owner in Reading, Karen is well-equipped and able to contribute as a seasoned steward of our town’s business and municipal finance needs. But as valuable as her professional qualifications, Karen has demonstrated her selfless dedication to our community and town through decades of her volunteer service. Over her 30 years in Reading, she has volunteered and served the town and her community as follows:

• 6 years on the Select Board

• 24 years as a Town Meeting Member

• 5 years on the Finance Committee

• Reading Historical Commission member

• Library Building Committee member

• Reading Solid Waste Committee member

• Member of several ad hoc town committees

• RMHS Drama Parent & Choral Parent

• PAWS foster mom

• PTO volunteer

• Wood End Playground Committee

• St. Athanasius Parish religious education teacher.

Karen’s campaign material is available for a fuller overview of her qualifications and record. As I believe this record reflects, Karen embodies all the values and credentials one could ask for in a town leader and Select Board member.

I’ve lived in Reading almost 40 years. I’ve been an active participant myself in our town, including as a Town Meeting member (over 30 years), Community Planning & Development Commission member (17 years), Reading Historical Commission member (12 years), Charter Review Committee member, and many other Town ad hoc committees and causes. I’ve observed and interacted with Karen in each of our capacities serving the town. Whether serving on the Select Board or as a Town Meeting member, or participating in a matter before the CPDC, RHC, or many other town committees or groups, I’ve always known Karen to inform herself on the issues and facts, listen to and appreciate the value of others’ opinions, and recognize the importance of fostering open, collaborative relationships with the Town’s employees, residents, and the business community. She’s willing then to form a reasoned opinion and to work with colleagues to respectfully bridge differences and advance Reading’s interests.

Like most of you, I believe Reading is one of the best towns to live in and raise a family. Here we have a shared collective sense of “community”, and we value Reading as a tight knit, caring, small town community. We expect to have confidence and trust in the ability and integrity of our local government leaders. We value our neighbors who pitch in to support our schools and community organizations, and those who volunteer and contribute so much to the fabric of our town. These values have been the foundation on which our reputation has been built, and our continued success depends on sustaining them. Karen embodies each and all these values and beliefs. She has devoted most of her 30 years in Reading to giving back and volunteering within town government and through many community organizations. Hers is a decades long record of volunteering, participating, and serving the Town and the community, a record of selfless commitment, integrity, and contribution. For these reasons, I endorse Karen Herrick for the Select Board. I’m voting for her and I urge you to vote for her as well.

Jonathan Barnes