Published in the March 10, 2016 edition
Liane Gonzalez
By BOB TUROSZ
NORTH READING — Liane Gonzalez, 4 Clover Rd., pulled nomination papers to run for Selectman last week, becoming the third candidate in the race for two seats on the board.
Gonzalez and her husband Richard have lived in town since 1994. Liane is originally from the South Shore where she owned a hair salon. She closed that when they moved here and she decided to raise her family.
She’s worked in town at the Cutting Room for 17 years and also is the assistant manager of a hair salon at Brooksby Village in Peabody.
Their daughter graduated from NRHS in 2013 and is now a student at Suffolk University, and formerly interned for State Rep. Brad Jones Jr. Their son is a senior at NRHS.
“That’s kind of where I’m at. I’m about to be an empty nester and want to give back to the community,” Gonzalez said. She’s well grounded in the community, having served as a Girl Scout leader for eight years and taught CCD for 12 years.
“Having worked in the hair salon, I hear the stories and people’s concerns. I interact with people in town and I hear their concerns. I feel I would be able to address them and do something about them.”
“Being in a small business in town, I know there’s conversation about a split tax rate coming up. That’s the type of decisions I’d be interested in being involved in,” she added.
Gonzalez is also concerned about the town’s elderly. Her in–laws live with them and she talks to a lot of seniors in the shop at Brooksby Village. “I hear a lot of their concerns. I know it’s difficult for the aging in this town because of the tax rate, etc. Whatever I could do to help with that, I would be happy to do.”
“Anything we can do to help seniors age in place would be great.”
Gonzalez has already started collecting her nomination signatures and will return them by the March 15 deadline.
This isn’t the first time she’s considered running for Selectmen. She nearly made the leap in time for last year’s election but decided to step back when Kathryn Manupelli decided to run.
But since then Gonzalez has put a lot of thought into it and is ready to make it a race.
Gonzalez’ entry into the campaign creates a contested election for Selectman, as she joins incumbent Robert Mauceri and Richard Wallner in seeking two 3–year seats on the town’s executive board.
There is also a contested race for School Committee. Incumbents Janene Imbriano and Mel Webster are seeking re–election and Laina Simone is playing the role of challenger.
Long–time CPC member Patricia Romeo will not seek re–election, but Warren Pearce is seeking another term and newcomer Jonathan Cody has announced his candidacy for Romeo’s seat.
Moderator John Murphy is seeking another one year term.
So far, only Mauceri, Webster and Imbriano have returned their nomination papers to the Town Clerk’s office.
The deadline for returning papers is Tuesday, March 15 at 5 p.m. Candidates need at least 50 signatures from registered voters to make the ballot. But it’s a good idea to submit more than the minimum number because of the chance that some cannot be certified.
