Select Board Appoints Richard Howe To Fill Dan Koh Seat

ANDOVER, MA — The Andover Select Board appointed Richard Howe Wednesday to fill Dan Koh's vacated seat.

Howe will serve until the March 2022 town election, at which point the seat will be up for election. He is not expected to run.

Koh, a selectman since 2019, departed the Board in February to join the Biden administration as the chief of staff to Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh.

The Select Board received twelve applicants to fill Koh's seat and conducted interviews over two evenings. They agreed to appoint Howe at their March 19 meeting but had to wait until after the March 23 town election.

Howe was unanimously appointed and sworn in on March 24.

Howe served six years on the Finance Committee and has also been an alderman in Melrose and a town administrator in Easton among other town and state government positions.

All four members put Howe on their finalists list ahead of the March 19 meeting, making him the only unanimous selection. Paula Colby-Clements was on three selectmen's lists and six other candidates made at least one list.

The selectmen were particularly enthusiastic about Howe based on a belief that he wouldn't face a learning curve ahead of town meeting, when residents will make a decision on a nearly-$300 million financing plan for the town's retirement fund and the West Elementary building project.

Selectman Laura Gregory noted that Howe, a former Finance Committee member, was talking about pension obligation bonds, an aspect of the plan, all the way back in 2007.

"I don't think he has much of a learning curve there," Gregory said. "I was very impressed by his interview."

"He has an extremely strong resume," said Selectman Chris Huntress.

The Select Board praised the other candidates for the position and encouraged them to remain involved in town government.

"Dan Koh's seat will be an open seat next year, assuming Dick Howe doesn't surprise us and decide to run," Chair Ann Gilbert noted.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.