Although the election for Town offices is being postponed, the deadlines for pulling and filing papers weren’t. That combined with concerns over social distancing is the reason for at least two positions on the ballot that will not list candidates.
The current occupants for two seats pulled papers but weren’t able to collect enough signatures in time. Those are Southborough’s representative on the Assabet Regional School Committee (Mark Pietrewicz) and a member of the Board of Commissioners of Trust Funds (Willam Boland).
There is also a vacant seat on the Housing Authority. (One candidate is running with two open seats.)
The good news is that only one vote (or a one vote majority) is needed for a write-in candidate to win in a Town election. So, all three seats could end up filled.
According to Town Clerk Jim Hegarty, Boland said he plans to run as a write-in candidate. When I checked in with Pietrewicz, he hadn’t figured out how he wanted to proceed yet. But he was concerned about his term ending on May 14th while an election is delayed. He doesn’t want to see Southborough unrepresented on the committee.
As for those who did file papers, it led to a race for the office that generally gets the most attention at election time.
Three candidates are running for two seats on the Board of Selectmen. Lisa Braccio is running for re-election. Also joining the race are Chelsea Marie Malinowski and Peter W. LaPine. Malinowski is currently serving on the Advisory Committee. LaPine has been leading a Citizen’s Petition Article for a Noise Bylaw.
I should note, this is really a potential selectmen’s race. Each candidate has until April 9th to withdraw. After that their names will be submitted for the ballot.
Absentee ballots will become available in mid-April. (Prior to that, if there is still a race, I’ll encourage each candidate to submit a statement for voters.)
Here are who is currently filed to run in the upcoming election. (Unless otherwise specified, each have one seat available.):
Town Clerk – 3 year term
James F. Hegarty, 14 Maplecrest Drive (candidate for re-election)
Moderator – 1 year term
Paul M. Cimino, 3 Austin Kelly Lane (candidate for re-election)
Board of Selectmen – vote for two – 3 year term
Lisa M. Braccio, 13 Oregon Road (candidate for re-election)
Chelsea Marie Malinowski, 1 William Colleary Lane
Peter W. LaPine, 27 Parkerville Road
Board of Assessors – 3 year term
Tammi A. Rice, 11 Prentiss Street
Board of Health – 3 year term
Nancy A. Sacco, 24 Jericho Hill Road (candidate for re-election)
Board of Trustees Southborough Library
vote for two – 3 year term
Amy S. Yazdani, 16A Bantry Road (incumbent by appointment)
Jane Cecilia Davis, 11 Buffalo Run (candidate for re-election)
vote for one – 2 year term
Janet M. Maney, 21 Skylar Drive (incumbent by appointment)
vote for one – 1 year term
David C. Ekberg, 5 High Street
Northborough-Southborough Regional School Committee – Southborough candidate – vote for two – 3 year term
Paul H. Desmond, 5 Pinecone Lane (candidate for re-election)
Paul Butka, 8 Hubley Lane (candidate for re-election)
Planning Board – 5 year term
Jesse T. Stein, 6 MacNeill Drive (candidate for re-election)
School Committee – vote for two –3 year term
Keturah Martin, 75 Deerfoot Road (candidate for re-election)
Kamali Aieka O’Meally, 8 Maplecrest Drive
Housing Authority – vote for two – 5 year term
John Wood, 10 Gilmore Road
Positions that will only show a write-in option are:
- Assabet Valley Regional Vocational School District Committee – 4 year term
- Board of Commissioners of Trust Funds – 3 year term
- second seat on Housing Authority – 5 year term
Updated (3/27/20 9:20 am): I forgot to include “vote for two” next to the Regional School Committee.
