If you’re interested in running for Town Office, you have just over four weeks to pull nomination papers. The deadline is 5:00 pm on Sunday, March 21st.
It’s too early to let you know about potential races – but I can tell you that at least one seat is in need of a candidate – the Board of Health.
The Board of Health’s member Dan O’Rourke’s term expires this spring. At a December meeting, he confirmed that he doesn’t plan to run for reelection. There is also strong potential that a second seat on the Board will open up on the ballot.*
This year, the following seats are up for grabs in the May 11th election. (Unless otherwise specified, each have one seat available):
- Board of Assessors – 3 year term
- Board of Commissioners of Trust Funds – 3 year term
- Board of Health – 3 year term*
- Board of Selectmen – 3 year term
- Board of Trustees Southborough Library –vote for two -3 year term
- Moderator – 1 year term
- Northborough-Southborough Regional School Committee – Southborough candidate – vote for two – 3 year term
- Planning Board – 5 year term
- Southborough Housing Authority – 2 year term
- Southborough School Committee – vote for two – 3 year term
So far, the only candidates who have pulled papers are incumbents.
I’ll update you if races start to brew. In the meantime, if you want the latest information on who has pulled papers, the Town Clerk plans to post an updated document to his dedicated election page each weekday by 5:00 pm.
For those of you considering a run, the Town Clerk’s Town Election page notes:
- Nomination papers are currently available at the Town Clerk’s office and can be obtained until 5:00pm on March 21, 2021. Call (508) 485-0710 x 3005 to make an appointment.
- Nomination papers must be returned to the Town Clerk’s office by 5:00pm on March 23, 2021. (You can return them in the Town’s mailbox.)
Click here to open the full list of vital dates. If you have questions about the responsibilities for each board, you can find information here. Since most of the boards/committees have only been meeting online, you can also view their latest meetings here.
*In December, Chair of the BOH, Mary Lou Woodford indicated that she planned to move out of Town this spring, which would force her to step down. Since she hasn’t officially resigned, her seat is currently not listed as up for election this May.
According to Town Clerk Jim Hegarty, if Woodford submits a resignation prior to March 23rd, her seat will be on the ballot. After that, it would be up to a joint meeting of the BOH and Board of Selectmen to appoint an interim replacement. (If her seat is added to the ballot, it would be for a 1 year term since her term expires in 2022.)
