Published in the March 25, 2019 edition.
WAKEFIELD — The 2019 Town Election ballot has been sent off to be printed after the final deadline for candidates came and went Thursday, with one unforeseen development.
Longtime member and incumbent Kevin Haggerty decided to withdraw from the race for two seats to be decided on the Municipal Gas and Light Board of Commissioners April 23.
Haggerty was appointed July 13, 2009 to a vacancy on the board created when Gilbert McCarthy resigned. He has won election ever since.
Haggerty pulled nomination papers for reelection on January 9.
Now we know what this year’s municipal election field will look like.
There will only be contested races for Town Council, where four people are running for three open seats; the Board of Health, where two seek one seat up for election; and Gas and Light Commission, with three hopefuls seeking two open positions.
Greg Liakos will not seek reelection to the School Committee, and neither will Ronald J. Masse Jr. As a result, Chairman Thomas F. Markham III will be reelected, and Susan Veilleux and Thomas Flynn will join the board, filling all three open seats.
Besides candidates, the April 23 ballot will also include a number of Town Charter-related questions. Town Meeting members recommended that 10 changes be made to the document used to govern Wakefield.
KEY DATES
The last day for residents to register to vote in this spring’s municipal election is Wednesday, April 3.
OFFICIALS TO BE ELECTED
Following are the offices to be filled on April 23, including those people who now hold them and those who have expressed an interest in running.
TOWN COUNCIL
(Three three-year terms)
Incumbents Anthony J. Longo, Peter J. May and Ann McGonigle Santos pulled nomination papers on January 2.
Jonathan Chines also took out nomination papers on January 2.
TOWN TREASURER
(One three-year term)
John J. McCarthy Jr.
McCarthy took out nomination papers for re-election January 10.
MODERATOR
(One one-year term)
William Harbison Carroll
Carroll took out nomination papers on January 14.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
(Three three-year terms)
Greg Liakos, Thomas F. Markham III and Ronald J. Masse Jr.
Liakos and Masse never took out papers for nomination to be reelected.
Markham took out nomination papers for reelection on January 9.
Susan Veilleux took out nomination papers on February 14.
Thomas J. Flynn pulled nomination papers on February 19.
LIBRARY TRUSTEES
(Three three-year terms)
John Havelick Jr., Timothy F. Healy and Jeffrey Michael Quinn are the incumbents.
Havelick never pulled nomination papers for reelection.
Quinn pulled nomination papers for reelection on January 4.
Christopher M. Barrett took out nomination papers on January 9.
Tim Healy took out nomination papers for reelection January 11.
PLANNING BOARD
(One five-year term)
William Spaulding
Spaulding took out nomination papers on January 18.
BOARD OF HEALTH
(One three-year term)
Elaine M. Silva
Silva took out nomination papers for reelection on January 10.
Annette M. Nardone took out nomination papers January 17.
BOARD OF ASSESSORS
(One three-year term)
Walter Schofield
Schofield never pulled nomination papers.
Brian Donegan pulled nomination papers on February 4.
GAS & LIGHT COMMISSIONER
(Two three-year terms)
Wayne M. Tarr
Philip Courcy took out nomination papers January 2.
Thomas Boettcher also took out papers on January 2.
Wayne Tarr pulled nomination papers on January 4.
CONSTABLE
(Two three-year terms)
Gerald S. Alterio Jr.
Richard O. Bayrd
Alterio never pulled nomination papers for reelection.
Bayrd took out nomination papers for reelection on January 3.
Christian Kevin Lopes pulled nomination papers January 17.
