Selectboard Profiles: Carrie Spear

Carrie Spear

The first in a series of profiles of Charlotte Selectboard members

Selectboard member Carrie Spear is gearing up for her second term serving the Town of Charlotte. Born in Duchess County, New York, she moved to Charlotte 25 years ago. She has worked in retail, or what she calls “people service,” for most of her life. With her husband, Carrie purchased Spear’s Corner Store in East Charlotte in 2001. Today, she sells everything from jewelry to toys and most of your foodstuff needs. Pictures from the community cover the wall, floor to ceiling behind the counter, a testament to Spear’s involvement in her community.

Carrie is probably best known, however, as the organizer of the annual East Charlotte Tractor Parade, which has grown to be one of the most popular fall events in the country, attracting native Vermonters and leaf peepers alike. The parade features both antique and modern tractors, a farmers market, food and craft vendors, live music and even a petting zoo for the kids. This year will mark the parade’s 18th year, and Carrie doesn’t seem to be giving it up anytime soon.

  When Carrie joined the Selectboard in 2015, she said that she simply felt it was just the right time to do so. She had been interested in running for a seat on the Selectboard for several years and saw it as something new to add to her life. Spear enjoys being involved in her community. For her, learning the ins and outs of running a town has been the best part of the job. 

When she isn’t busy with town meetings or running her small business, she can be found at home, gardening.