Published in the March 15, 2018 edition

By MAUREEN DOHERTY

NORTH READING – The field in this spring’s Town Election expanded by one potential new candidate this week.

Chuck Carucci of Chester Street intends to run for the open seat on the Housing Authority being vacated by Joe Veno in May. Carucci pulled nomination papers at the Town Clerk’s office on Monday. It is the only five-year seat on the ballot.

Nomination papers for all candidates seeking a spot on the May 8 Town Election ballot must return a minimum of 50 signatures of North Reading registered voters by Tuesday, March 20 at 5 p.m. All signatures must be certified by the Town Clerk, therefore it is recommended that candidates submit more than the minimum so as not to come up short if some signatures are invalidated.

Carucci is no stranger to North Reading politics. He previously served on the Community Planning Commission (CPC) from 1988 to 1991 and won re-election to the board in 1991 but he resigned in February of 1993 before the end of his term, according to records provided by Town Clerk Barbara Stats.

“Pat Romeo ran and won that seat as an unexpired one-year term, and that was the beginning of her ‘run,’” Stats added.

In 2001, Carucci was a “founding member” of the Secondary Schools Building Committee (SSBC), and he continues to serve on this board today. Stats stated the SSBC was created by the passage of Article 6 at the Feb. 12, 2001 Special Town Meeting.

A 1960 graduate of North Reading High School, Carucci scored the first touchdown ever made by a NRHS football player during the team’s inaugural season in the fall of 1957 shortly after the school opened. He was only a sophomore and a school mascot had not yet been chosen. Today he is a member of the Hornet Hall of Fame.

Veno has held the position on the Housing Authority for two full terms. Concurrently, for the past three years, Veno has also served on the CPC, but he has also opted not to run for re-election for that three-year term. He intends to remain active on several volunteer committees in town.

School Committee seat

As of press time, the only remaining vacancy on the ballot currently is one of the two available seats on the School Committee.

Newcomer Richard F. McGowan has taken out papers for one of the three-year terms.

The board has openings for both seats because incumbents Jerry Venezia and Julie Koepke have both announced that they will not seek re-election to the board.

Last week, after press time, incumbent Selectman Steve O’Leary became the first announced candidate to return his nomination papers and be certified for inclusion on the election ballot.

Also seeking re-election to her seat on the Board of Selectmen is Kathryn Manupelli.

Incumbent CPC Chairman Bill Bellavance is also seeking re-election to his seat. Neal E. Rooney III, who previously served on the CPC from 1998 to 2014, announced his intention to run for the seat being vacated by Veno.

Rounding out the ballot is the lone candidate for Town Moderator, incumbent John J. Murphy, who is seeking his 14th consecutive one-year term.

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 Town Clerk’s office will remain open an extra hour on both deadline days, per state law, according to Stats.

The last day residents can register to vote to participate in the May 8 Town Election is Wednesday, April 18 at 8 p.m. The Town Clerk’s office will be open an extra four hours that night to accommodate voters, also as mandated by state law. Stats reminds voters that early voting is not available for any local elections in the state.

In North Reading, all four precincts vote in the Parish Hall at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter St.

Those with questions about the Town Election may call the Town Clerk’s office at 978-357-5218.