West Stockbridge — With 161 votes, or 58.5 percent of the total 275 votes cast in the November 17 election, Tobias “Toby” Casey will now occupy the third seat on the town’s Select Board. As a part of the Baldwin family, he is a sixth-generation West Stockbridge resident and owner of Baldwin Farm, having grown up across the street from the site.
Town Clerk Ronni Barrett announced the election results just after polls closed at 7 p.m. Candidate Susan Lupo received 114 votes, or about 41.5 percent of the votes cast. West Stockbridge currently has 1,211 registered voters, with about 23 percent of those voters casting votes in the election.
“It’s an incredible honor,” Casey told The Berkshire Edge. “I’m grateful for the people who have entrusted me with trying to oversee their town, and I’m looking forward to being part of a team that endeavors to move the town forward in a meaningful way.”
Although he does not have a specific agenda for his term, Casey voiced concern with “trying to overcome some of the divide that has occurred in town over the years,” opting to “be part of a team to both bring meaningful business to town and also continue to make it a place that we all love to live as families here in West Stockbridge.”
“I’m tired of the divide and really want to be part of the conversation in a, I hope, productive way that can listen to all of the constituents in town and try to hear what’s on their mind and figure out how to map a path forward together,” he said.
For Casey and his family, the group looks ahead to the new venture as a way to serve the town “as best we possibly can in this role,” he said.
Lupo spent the day with Casey and his family on the campaign trail. “It worked out great,” she said of the results. “I’m really happy.”
Select Board member Kathleen Keresey was on hand for the evening announcement. “I’m grateful that we had two qualified and dedicated candidates,” she said.
Following the July 30 resignation of West Stockbridge Select Board member Andrew Potter, the remaining group—Chair Andrew Krouss and member Kathleen Keresey—debated how to proceed. Potter’s three-year term was set to expire in 2028.
