How to Address a First Selectman
How to Address a Selectwoman

Note #1: Most New England towns formally address members of their Board of Selectmen as The Honorable (Full Name),  But some smaller communities by local tradition dispense with the formailty and use just Mr./Ms. (Name).  Check for the tradition of your town. Former official continue to be The Honorable (Full Name) but are no longer addressed officially as First Selectman, First Selectwoman, Selectman or Selectwoman.

Note #2: Use of First Selectman, First Selectwoman, Selectman or Selectwoman + (Name) as when addressing current officials is limited to official use. These are not used socially or by former office holders. How to Address a First Selectman or Selectman

Addressed as the Honorable (Full Name) in Writing

—-Envelope, official:    Note #1 above
—-—-The Honorable (Full Name)
—-—-(Title of position held)
—-—-(Address)

—-—-Which looks like:
————The Honorable Pamela Kappa
————First Selectwoman
————Sullivan Independence Hall, Second Floor
————725 Old Post Road
————Fairfield, CT 12345

————The Honorable Kenneth Kritchlow
————Selectman
————Monroe Town Hall
————890 Fan Hill Road
————Monroe, CT 12398

————The Honorable Marjorie Freeman
————Vice Chair, Board of Selectmen
————Wellesley Town Hall
————1234 Washington Street
————Wellesley, MA 45678

—-Letter salutation:   Note #2
——–Dear First Selectman/Selectman (surname):
——–Dear First Selectwoman/Selectwoman (surname):
——–Dear Chairman/Chairwoman/Chair  (surname):
—-—-—-or
—-—-Dear Mr./Ms. (surname):

Not Addressed as the Honorable (Full Name) in Writing

—-Envelope, official:
——–Mr./Ms./Mrs./Dr./etc. (Full Name)
—-—-(Title of position held)
—-—-(Address)

—-Salutation:
—-—-Dear Mr./Ms./Mrs./Dr./etc. (Name)

— Robert Hickey   How to Address a First Selectman or Selectman

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?

You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. (If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.)  The form noted in the salutation is the same form you say when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them.
___What I don’t cover on this site are many things I do cover in my book: all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions, etc. I hope you’ll get a copy of the book if you’d like the further detail.

Not Finding Your Answer?

—-#1)  At right on desktops, at the bottom of every page on tablets and phones, is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.

—-#2)  If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answered send me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so (unless I am traveling.)  Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.

—-#3)  If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question  – but always change all the specifics.

— Robert Hickey 

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

Recommended Resources:  The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW) and Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA)    For more information see the Protocol Resources page.