Voters will have the opportunity to choose a new member of the Board of Selectmen at the special election in December. On Monday, at town caucus, they will have the chance to put forth names of people who would be worthy candidates.

As we embark upon this unexpected campaign and election season, people should be thinking about their selection criteria for the next member of this group of town leaders. Resumés can be impressive, listing education, employment, and past accomplishments. But they mean little if candidates are uninformed about the town’s history—how we got where we are today—and the town’s guiding principles, the plans developed with great effort by a number of people who have served the town over the years.

Are candidates aware of which town plans are due for updating? Are they familiar with the details laid out in the Open Space and Recreation Plan, the Affordable Housing Plan, or the Town Center Action Plan, and what bearing those might have on decisions before the Board of Selectmen? How committed are they to executing these plans?

Resumé qualifications mean little if candidates aren’t committed to carrying out the will of townspeople, seeing plans through to conclusion, or making the personal sacrifices necessary to fulfill the obligations of the office. We hope voters will challenge the candidates on these issues this election season.