By BOB TUROSZ
NORTH READING — With two weeks to go before the deadline for candidates to return nomination papers for the May 5 town election ballot, the races are starting to clarify.
Kathryn Manupelli, 33 Valley Rd., pulled nomination papers Monday to run for an open seat on the Board of Selectmen. The seat became officially open when incumbent Selectman Joe Foti announced last week he won’t be running for a second term. There are two Selectmen’s seats up for renewal in the annual town election. Incumbent member Stephen O’Leary is seeking re–election to another three year term.
Manupelli and her husband have lived in town since 2002 and have four children who attend North Reading schools.
“We’re in organization mode right now,” Manupelli told the Transcript. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and the opportunity seems to be there and it seems this is the moment to do so. We’re rooted in the community and we love it here.”
A graduate of Merrimack College and the Massachusetts School of Law, Manupelli has been an attorney since 1996 and is currently City Solicitor in Malden.
“Cities and towns run themselves differently but there are a lot of the same issues people are concerned with. We, (the solicitor’s office) do everything. I’m familiar with liquor boards, we do licensing issues and zoning appeals and sometimes give opinions to planning boards. I think it provides me with a background to serve. I think it’s a good background to be able to try to help in this way,” she said.
Manupelli’s candidacy means there are now eight declared candidates seeking the nine town offices to be renewed on the May 5 ballot.
Although there are no competitive races at this point, there is now one candidate for each office on the ballot, with the exception of a three–year seat on the Community Planning Commission, where CPC chairman Dan Mills hasn’t taken out papers yet. So far, that seat has no takers.
There are two other CPC seats on the ballot, and both have candidates: Patricia Romeo for the one year term and William Bellavance for three years.
John Murphy is a candidate for re–election as Town Moderator, (one year) and Mary Prenney has signed up for another five year term on the North Reading Housing Authority.
To be included on the May 5 ballot, candidates must file signatures from at least 50 registered voters in the Town Clerk’s office by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17. It’s strongly recommended candidates obtain more than 50 signatures in case there are some duplications or some signatures can’t be certified.
