Langley Seeking Re-Election to Board of Selectmen

A selectman since 2009, Stephen Langley is looking to retain his seat in the upcoming April 2 town elections.

Langley, who had served on the board previously from 2003 to 2006, said the biggest issue facing the town was that of the budget.

"We need to utilize the money we have appropriately," he said. "The town has spoken about its lack of desire for an override or debt exclusion. We're taking a really hard look at making cuts where they're needed."

He said the challenge is doing so in a manner that doesn't compromise essential services.

"In the summer of 2010, we had a lot of public safety issues," he said. "The Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee went about finding solutions, and we added a few police officers."

Langley said smart development in town could help deal with the budget problems.

"I think town growth, and how it's managed, is a major issue," he said. "We've talked about what people don't want Wrentham to be, but there are places in town that are developable and that we should look into as the economy picks up."

He pointed to the recently vacated Crosby Valve property as a possibility for the town.

"That's 40 acres in the center of town," he said. "That's a big determinant of how the town develops in upcoming years."

Langley said he believes local government has improved recently.

"In the last couple of years, the tenor of town government has changed for the better," he said. "We're attracting more people to committees, and the government has been run more effectively."

One of the programs Langley would like to help bring to fruition in a new term is an increased attention to technology.

"We're making significant time investments in technology," he said. "We've repurposed the website committee into a technology committee, and we're looking at how we can make the town run better and more effectively."

Langley has previously served as a city councilor in Marlborough, and he has volunteered his time with Wrentham soccer, King Philip lacrosse, Wrentham youth baseball and the Lions' Club.