LYNNFIELD — After nearly 20 years of service to the Town of Lynnfield, Select Board Chairman Chris Barrett has announced he will not seek another term.
Barrett made the announcement Saturday on his Facebook and Twitter accounts.
“This has been a very difficult decision for my family and me because of the pride and joy I take from serving the Town I love so much,” he wrote. “With a young family and increased professional responsibility, I thought this was the perfect moment to step back and let a new voice be heard.”
Barrett has served on the board since 2015. Prior to that, he served three years on the School Committee.
Last fall, he led the move to change the name of the board to the gender-neutral Select Board after drawing inspiration from his daughter.
In an interview last fall, Barrett said, “Kaylee said it best … she said, ‘Dad, why is it selectmen and what about me?’ I know we will be the leaders that we need to be on this issue.”
Barrett was appointed principal at the Webster Elementary School in Everett prior to the 2020-2021 school year. A self-described late comer to education, Barrett started his career as an educator in 2007 as a social studies and media science teacher at Everett High School. He had served that school as vice-principal since 2016 before moving on to the Webster School.
Prior to that, the Merrimack College graduate worked in the insurance business and also held various positions in government, most recently as the Chief of Staff to Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey and Director of Municipal Affairs in the Office of the Governor (Mitt Romney) from 2004-2006.
In the post, Barrett expressed his thanks to the Lynnfield community for its “dedicated support over the years and for allowing me to play a small part in the success of the Town of Lynnfield. I will forever be humbled by the trust you have placed in me to serve the Town of Lynnfield for the past two decades. Best wishes to my great friends (and fellow Select Board members) Dick Dalton (and) Phil Crawford, (Town Administrator) Rob Dolan, and (Assistant Town Administrator) Bob Curtin on your continued success leading our wonderful community. I know there will always be better days ahead with this solid team in place leading the Town of Lynnfield!”
Crawford thanked Barrett for his dedicated service to the community.
“I’d like to thank Chris for his years of service on the BOS (Select Board), love of community, and never-ending passion to make the Town of Lynnfield the best it can be. I wish him the best of luck in his new position as principal and all the best to him and his family.”
