If you’re interested in running for Town Office, you have just over two more weeks to pull nomination papers. The deadline is 5:00 pm on March 16th.
This year, the following seats are up for grabs in the May 8th election. (Unless otherwise specified, each have one seat available)*:
- Moderator – 1 year term
- Board of Selectmen – 3 year term
- Board of Assessors – 3 year term
- Board of Commissioners of Trust Funds – 3 year term
- Board of Health – 3 year term
- Board of Trustees Southborough Library – vote for two – 3 year term
- Northborough-Southborough Regional School Committee – vote for two Southborough candidates – 3 year term
- Planning Board – 5 year term
- School Committee – vote for two – 3 year term
- Housing Authority – 5 year term
For more on the election schedule for candidates, scroll down. If you have questions about the responsibilities of the positions, you can find information here.
Those of you who aren’t planning to run, may still want to note some important dates in our Town democracy. The voter registration deadline is March 20th at 8:00 pm. The Annual Town Meeting is 7:00 pm on April 9th. And the final day to apply for an absentee ballot is noon on May 7th.
There are no “races” that I know of yet this year. However, at least five officials have already pulled and/or filed papers for possible re-election bids:*
- Moderator – Paul M. Cimino
- Board of Selectmen – Brian Shea
- Board of Assessors – Arthur Holmes
- Board of Commissioners of Trust Funds – John Wilson
- Planning Board – Andrew Mills
Below are important dates for candidates considering a run:
- Window to obtain nomination papers –February 1 through March 16 (5:00 pm)
- Last day to submit nomination papers – March 20 (5:00 pm)
- Last day to object or withdraw – April 5 (5:00 pm)
- Town Election – May 8 (6:30 am – 8:00 pm)
For the full Town election calendar, click here to open the Town’s pdf.
*Even those who filed their papers won’t be on the ballot if they pull their names by April 5th.
Updated (3/1/18 10:42 pm): I initially missed listing Andrew Mills under potential candidates who have pulled/filed papers.
Updated (3/2/18 8:51 am): I initially noted that I was unsure how many seats were available on the Housing Authority. I received clarification that only one is available through the Town ballot. (There is another vacancy, but that needs to be filled by state appointment. And a tenant-held position was listed on the Town website as having a term through last May. That is actually an indefinitely ongoing term until the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development issues regulations for the tenant-election process.)
I also decided to add a link for residents to learn more about what the responsibilities of each position are.
