A town clerk is charged with recording official proceedings and vital statistics. Or as Anthony Blasi sees it, being a community historian and genealogist, too. Woolwich selectmen recently hired the Auburn native.

Blasi came aboard just in time to take part in last Tuesday’s state primary election. The town office received a record 500-plus requests for absentee ballots. But it was busy at the polls, too, with about 270 residents voting at Woolwich Central School.

“The election went really well as far as people maintaining social distancing and wearing face masks,” said Blasi about the state’s COVID-19 precautions. The next challenge comes Saturday, Aug. 22, when voters convene for the first time outdoors for their annual town meeting. There’s also the Presidential election Nov. 3.

Blasi’s father, Tony Blasi, is a reporter and editor who covers sports for Lewiston Sun Journal and Franklin Journal.

After graduating from Edward Little High School, Anthony Blasi attended University of Maine at Farmington where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 2019. His professors included Woolwich Selectman and District 53 Representative Allison Hepler, who teaches history at UMF.

Blasi is coming in new to town government. He previously worked as an educational technician at Edward Little High School and St. Mary's Center for Orthopedics in Auburn.

He had been looking for a career change and was pretty excited when the select board offered him the job. He was hired with the understanding he would have to do some training. In September, he will take two Maine Municipal Association courses, one covering elections, the other for registering motor vehicles. He also plans to become a notary public. Blasi is single, but said he is “unofficially” engaged to be married. He met his future wife who is from Durham while he was at UMF.

Blasi said he is a bit of a history buff. He enjoys visiting used book stores, hiking and especially going to the beach. He lives in Auburn but hopes to move to, or closer to, Woolwich. He and his significant other love the coast and often treat themselves to a seafood dinner. They enjoy Woolwich’s Taste of Maine Restaurant and although they haven’t visited Wiscasset’s famous Red’s Eats they plan to soon for a lobster roll.

“Woolwich is a great community, I’m very happy and excited to be here,” he added. “When you’re doing something you really enjoy, you look forward to coming to work every day.”

“After we interviewed him we knew he was hands down the best choice,” select board chairman David King Sr. told Wiscasset Newspaper. “He’s a bit of a genealogy buff which I think will work out well with him being our town clerk.” Selectman Dale Chanbourne called Blasi “very personable” and a good fit for the town.

Along with recording all of the town’s births, deaths and marriages, the town clerk registers vehicles, boats and trailers, sells hunting, fishing and dog licenses and serves as registrar of voters.

“People coming into the town office have been very welcoming. I’m looking forward to meeting many more of them in the coming weeks,” said Blasi.