Published January 24, 2019

By MAUREEN DOHERTY

NORTH READING — Tuesday was the first day that candidates could pull their nomination papers for elective office in the annual spring town election. Day one came and went without anyone inquiring about the process, according to Town Clerk Barbara Stats.

But she wasn’t totally surprised. It was the day after a holiday and bitterly cold.

However, on Wednesday morning, incumbent Town Moderator John J. Murphy pulled his papers to run for his 15th consecutive one-year term to retain his position in the May 7 annual Town Election. About an hour later, Housing Authority incumbent James DeCola pulled papers for his five-year term. He retired as building inspector last year. 

One fact is certain in this election, however. At least three incumbents have announced they are giving up their seats at the end of their current terms. Two three-year terms are up for grabs on the Select Board in this cycle as well as one three-year term on the School Committee. Both current Select Board Chairman Mike Prisco and Select Board member Bob Mauceri made their announcements at last week’s board meeting. By the end of their terms, Prisco will have served for nine years or three terms while Mauceri will have completed 15 years on the board or five terms.

Long time School Committee member Mel Webster also announced, via Facebook posts, that he will not seek another three-year term.

Election Day is May 7

The basics: Election Day is Tuesday, May 7 and the deadline for candidates to return their nomination papers to the Town Clerk’s office is Tuesday, March 19 at 5 p.m. The Town Clerk’s office will remain open an extra hour on the deadline day to accept the nomination papers.

All candidates are required to obtain a minimum of 50 signatures from town residents who are registered to vote in the town of North Reading to be eligible to be included on the ballot. Therefore, Stats always advises candidates to submit more than the minimum number of signatures required because her office is unable to certify signatures that are “duplications, illegible or ineligible.”

Once a candidate is certified as eligible to run for an elective office, the last day that candidate can choose to withdraw his or her name from the ballot is Thursday, April 4 at 5 p.m.

The last day a resident of the town can register to vote to participate in the May 7 annual town election is Wednesday, April 17 at 8 p.m.

Elective offices for 2019

Eight seats on four boards plus the town moderator’s seat are up for election this year. The names of incumbents are listed in parentheses.

• Two seats for three-year terms on the Select Board (Robert Mauceri and Michael Prisco);

• One seat for a one-year term for Town Moderator (John Murphy);

• Two seats for three-year terms on the School Committee (Janene Imbriano and Melvin Webster);

• Two seats for three-year terms on the Community Planning Commission (Warren Pearce and Jonathan Cody;

• One seat for a five-year term on the Housing Authority (James DeCola).

Candidates for any municipal office are required to file campaign finance reports on specific dates per the provisions of Mass. General Laws Chapter 55. Those with questions about this process may contact the state’s Office of Campaign and Political Finance for assistance by phone: 617-727-8352, email: ocpf@cpf.state.ma.us or visit the website at www.mass.gov/ocpf.

For additional assistance the public may also call the Town Clerk’s office at 978-357-5218.