Dennis Randall formally declared his bid for re-election to the Kingston Board of Health this week, framing his candidacy as a bridge between the town’s storied past and its future health challenges. In a statement recorded for PAC TV, Randall highlighted a 30-year record of service to the community that began with deep family roots—including a grandmother who served as postmistress of the Silver Lake Post Office—and evolved through decades of municipal leadership.

Randall, a Vietnam veteran and retired writer, emphasized his broad administrative experience across nearly every facet of Kingston’s government. Having served as a Library Trustee, Selectman, and member of the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Conservation Commission, Randall argued that his tenure provides a history for the future necessary to guide the Board of Health as it matures into a full-service department. He described the transition of the board from a small three-member oversight group to its current professional status as a key achievement of his time in office.

Central to Randall’s re-election pitch is a commitment to keeping national political discourse out of local health decisions. He praised the board’s recent adherence to science-based protocols during the pandemic and its unanimous decision to follow federal CDC guidelines. The board has responded to the lunacy coming out of Washington with a unanimous vote to follow the public health guidelines of the CDC, Randall stated. We believe that science, not politics, must govern the policies when it comes to public health.

This science-first philosophy has been a hallmark of Randall’s recent positions, including his perspective that emerging issues like Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) require a blend of public health oversight and strict zoning application. As the board moves forward with quality-of-life initiatives and septic enforcement, Randall stressed that his values remain rooted in his military background. Noting that his oath as a sergeant in the U.S. Air Force to defend the Constitution never expired, he concluded, My politics don't determine my values; my values determine my politics.