Published in the February 22, 2018 edition
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — With the deadline for candidates to submit nomination papers to run for elective office in the annual town election just under four weeks away, a few openings remain on the ballot.
As the Transcript went to press this week, no new candidates had emerged in the various races, according to Town Clerk Barbara Stats. The lack of activity could partly be attributed to the fact that Town Hall was closed Monday for the Presidents’ Day holiday and then had to close early at 2:15 p.m. Tuesday due to a water main break on North Street, and it is also February school vacation week.
To date, four incumbents and one newcomer have announced their intentions to run for elective office by taking out nomination papers while three incumbents have chosen not to seek re-election to their respective positions.
Selectman Steve O’Leary, Selectman Kathryn Manupelli, Community Planning Commissioner (CPC) William Bellavance and Town Moderator John Murphy have all said they will run for re-election on May 8 while newcomer Richard McGowan is running for one of two open seats on the School Committee.
School Committee members Jerry Venezia and Julie Koepke have both announced that they will be stepping down in May at the end of their respective terms. Additionally, Joe Veno will not be seeking re-election to either of the seats he currently holds on the CPC and the Housing Authority.
The terms for Selectmen, School Committee and CPC are three years each, Town Moderator is a one-year term and Housing Authority is a five-year term.
All candidates have until Tuesday, March 20 at 5 p.m. to return their nomination papers to the Town Clerk’s office for certification of a minimum of 50 signatures of North Reading voters to ensure their name gets on the ballot. To date, no candidates have returned their papers.
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 5 at 5 p.m.
The last day a resident of the town can register to vote to participate in the May 8 annual town election is Wednesday, April 18 at 8 p.m. Town Hall will be open late on both of those dates to accommodate voters, as mandated by state law, Stats said, who added early voting is not available for any local elections in the state.
Candidates for any municipal office are required to file campaign finance reports on specific dates per the provisions of Mass. General Law 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.
