Last year’s town election was an exciting one, with several contested races on the ballot and no shortage of healthy debate among the candidates. It’s too early to tell if this year will be the same, but a number of key positions are once again up for grabs.
The kick-off to election season began last week with the first day to take out nomination papers on January 10. So far incumbent selectwoman Bonnie Phaneuf is the only one to have pulled nomination papers, but candidates have until March 18 to do so.
In addition to Phaneuf on the Board of Selectmen, a number of elected officials face the decision of whether to run again. This year terms expire for Planning Board chairman Charles Gaffney, Board of Health member Nancy Sacco, and school committee members Kathleen Harragan (K-8), Paul Butka (Regional), and Jack Kessler (K-8 and Regional), among others.
Here’s a complete list of open positions. All are 3-year terms unless otherwise noted.
- Town Clerk
- Town Moderator (1-year term)
- Board of Selectmen
- Assabet School Committee (1-year term)
- Board of Assessors
- Board of Commissioners of Trust Funds
- Board of Health
- Board of Trustees, Library — 2 positions
- Southborough School Committee — 2 positions
- Northborough-Southborough Regional School Committee — 2 positions
- Planning Board (5-year term)
- Southborough Housing Authority (2-year term)
If you want to run, stop by the Town Clerk’s office in the Town House by March 18 to pick up the paperwork. Then find 44 of your fellow residents (registered voters only) to sign your nomination papers, and return them to the Town Clerk by March 21. The town election is on May 9.
If running for an elected position isn’t your thing, there are a number of appointed positions available where you can still have an impact. See a list of committee vacancies here.
