ROYALSTON – Retired U.S. Army officer Steven Egan is one of three people running to fill the seat on Royalston’s Selectboard which was vacated when former board member Shelby Bronnes resigned in January.

In announcing his candidacy, Egan said that, upon retiring after 28 years in the military that included postings in 15 states and three countries – South Korea, Germany, and Iraq – he and his wife Danielle spent seven months searching for the ideal place to settle down. In July of 2023 the couple chose Royalston, he said, because of its “history, character, charm, spirit and roots.”

A native of Bristol, Connecticut, Egan entered the U.S. Military Academy and was commissioned an officer upon graduation. He served in the Military Police Corps in a variety of leadership and staff positions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from West Point, and a master’s in business and security management from Webster University, as well as a master’s in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.

While weighing whether or not to make his first run for public office, Egan told the Athol Daily News, “I spoke to several members of the community, several who have served on the Selectboard previously, and others who are members of various other committees. I’m also serving as chair of the Police Department Study Committee. It comes down to this; I want to contribute, as this is the place my wife and I chose to live. We want to be a part of the community and make sure it maintains its character and help support it however we can. Being a member of the Selectboard would give me that opportunity.”

Egan added that serving on the board for one year would give him the opportunity to determine if that’s how he could best serve the community, “or if there’s something else I might be better at.

“I think government should make life easier, not harder.”

Egan continued. “I think in Royalston, the character and culture and way of life are so important. That’s why people come here. They don’t come here because it’s a big city with all that comes with that; they come here because they like the way of life. We should preserve and honor that culture while also looking to the future to make sure we can maintain the prosperity and the health of this town.”

Egan believes the town’s culture and way of life can’t be secured solely by depending on taxes and state and federal grants.

“There has to be something more,” he said. “I don’t know exactly what that looks like yet. But I think what’s best for Royalston is up to the citizens to decide and for the Selectboard to do its best to implement.”

In a release announcing his candidacy which was printed in the town newsletter, Egan said, “Throughout my life, I have worked with individuals from all parts of the country, every religion,

political belief, socioeconomic background and culture. I learned something from everyone — both positive and negative. I was recently asked, ‘what do you stand for?’

“The three most important aspects of my life are my God, my Family and my Country. I fully support the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and believe government should serve and work for the citizens without being intrusive. I value teamwork, honesty, integrity and candor. I have found that listening more than talking brings clarity and opportunity. Respectful sharing of opinions and viewpoints is critical to successful management.”

As for his wife, Egan said, “She is fully supportive of this, as she has been throughout my career. She’s been my bedrock. When I approached her about this, she was fully on board when I said I wanted to do it.”

Egan is being joined in the race for Selectboard by Chris Deveneau, a lieutenant with the state Department of Corrections digital forensics lab, and Linda Alger, a long-time community activist who is on the Royalston South Village Revitalization Committee and once served as a member of the Selectboard.

Incumbent Mark Thompson is running unopposed for re-election to a three-year term on the Selectboard. Candidates for all other elective offices are also running with no opposition. There is no candidate to fill a one-year term as Royalston’s representative on the Athol Royalston Regional School Committee.

The annual town election will take place on Monday, April 7, with balloting at Town Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.