Updated from the print edition Thursday, March 21 at 1 p.m.
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — The town’s voters will have choices on the ballot in the annual Town Election on May 7.
Both the Select Board and the School Committee will feature three-way races for the two available three-year seats on both committees.
The ballot became official at 5 p.m. Tuesday with closure of the nomination process. Assistant Town Clerk Stephanie Connolly announced that all candidates returning nomination papers were certified as at least 50 signatures of registered North Reading voters had endorsed the candidates.
As previously announced last week, there is a three-way race for two seats up for renewal on the Select Board. Both incumbents, Kate Manupelli, 33 Valley Road, and Stephen O’Leary of 15 Meade Road, are in the running and will face challenger Nick Masse of 1 Rodgers Circle.
In the race for School Committee, incumbent Vice Chairman Rich McGowan of 46 Chestnut St. was certified as were two challengers, Jennifer Leenders of 28 Heritage Way and Timothy Sutherland of 17 Maple Road. Sutherland is a current member of the Finance Committee
Incumbent School Committee member Dyana Boutwell, who served for two terms, did not take out nomination papers seeking reelection.
There will be two candidates for the two available three-year terms on the Community Planning Commission (CPC). Incumbent CPC member Ryan Carroll, 21 Bishops Way, was certified last week. Newcomer Maxwell Murphy of 2 Bishops Way was certified this week. Incumbent Jeremiah Johnston did not seek reelection.
Two additional incumbents were certified this week to seek reelection to their respective posts and will not have any opponents. Incumbent Town Moderator John Murphy, 13 Duane Dr., was certified on Tuesday for this annual one-year term.
Incumbent Housing Authority member James DeCola was certified to run for another five-year term on that board.
The deadline to file withdrawals or objections to all nomination papers is Thursday, April 4 at 5 p.m. The last day a resident may register to vote to participate in the May 7 Town Election is Saturday, April 27. The Town Clerk’s office will be open that day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Those with any questions on the Town Election process may call the office of Town Clerk Susan Duplin at 978-357-5230 or visit the Town Clerk’s page on the town website at northreadingma.gov/town-clerk and look at the right side of the screen where they’ll see the title: “Information to Candidates 2024.”
Editor’s note:
This story was updated to correct the misspelling of School Committee candidate’s Timothy Sutherland’s last name.
