It is with great pleasure that I endorse Mary Jo LaFreniere for re-election to one of the two Hopkinton Select Board seats.

Although I do not customarily endorse candidates, I make an exception here because of a long and enduring personal connection. I have known and respected Mary Jo for over 20 years. In fact, she was one of the people who inspired me to run for state senator.

As district director for my predecessor, David Magnani, Mary Jo assisted with constituent concerns and helped Senator Magnani make local municipalities’ needs heard at the state level. Since then I have followed her work on many Hopkinton boards and committees, including the Board of Assessors, Commissioners of Trust Funds, Tax Relief Committee, Marathon Committee and finally the Select Board. Consistently, she has served with integrity and humility, and with strong emphasis on teamwork. Truly, Hopkinton is her heart.

— State Sen. Karen E. Spilka, Ashland

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