RUSSELL – Gloria Farrell defeated four-term incumbent Selectman Keith Cortis, 134 to 90, in the municipal election in Russell on June 6.

Farrell is a 41-year resident of Russell and a retired teacher who taught elementary grades at St. Mary’s Parish School for seven years, and 22 years as an autism specialist in Westfield public schools, also working at Digital in Springfield and operating a home day care. She is also music director at Holy Family Parish in Russell, where she formerly ran the religious education program.

Before running, Farrell said she has been active in town for many years, as a member and former chairman of Russell First, a committee of residents looking to advance the town that held trivia nights to raise money for its activities. She is currently a library trustee, a constable, and has been an alternate on the Zoning Board, from which she will be stepping down.

Last year, Farrell also got involved in the Russell Underserved Taxpayers group, or RUT, helping to organize the 40 families in town that did not have broadband internet service before Comcast bought Russell Cable. She had not intended to run for Board of Selectmen, but after trying to recruit others to run and being turned down six times, she realized she might be the right person.

“I didn’t know anyone in town who had been to more meetings,” she said.

Four days before the nominating caucus, her friend, another former teacher, put up a big cardboard sign on the corner of Route 20. Farrell carried the caucus with 44 votes, versus 21 for Cortis.

“My campaign slogan was to make Russell user-friendly by making communication better all around, within the select board and with other boards, and especially with the residents of Russell; by listening, paying attention and taking ideas from the citizens. It’s already started happening,” Farrell said on June 12.

On June 10, town officials met with representatives from state Sen. John Velis’ office. They also had a good turnout for a meeting with MassWildlife, which led to a long discussion about what residents could do to get better access to the river, which has been restricted due to trash that people leave. She said they are also looking for boat ramp access to the river and to Russell Pond, and have planned to meet with the management of Russell Pond and Camp Moses.

Farrell talked about the town’s new website under the direction of Selectman Wayne Precanico. She said each board will update its own page on the website, admitting there has been a learning curve to get it up and running.

“Once they do, it will increase communication in town,” she said.

She said Dan Glanville from Comcast has been in touch with the Massachusetts Broadband Institute about funding last-mile connections for the unserved homes that RUT identified, but has said it will be easier after the July 1 start of the fiscal year, and it may be more advantageous to wait. “As soon as the fiscal year begins, RUT will be approaching the select board about putting ARPA funds aside for broadband connection,” she said. Broadband connectivity is one of the eligible uses for federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Farrell also wants to look into reducing the speed limit through the center of town, and limiting trucks from using air brakes in residential neighborhoods, items which were brought to her attention by residents when she went door to door during the campaign.

“My goal is to get people involved and increase communication,” she said.