Published in the January 25, 2018 edition
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — Incumbent Town Moderator John Murphy will run his 14th consecutive one-year term to retain his position in the May 8 annual Town Election.
Murphy was first elected to the post in 2004. He was the second candidate to pull nomination papers for the May election. He picked them up on Friday morning, Town Clerk Barbara Stats stated.
The first candidate to pull nomination papers was political newcomer Richard F. McGowan of 46 Chestnut St. who will run for one of the two three-year terms on the School Committee.
There are two seats up for re-election to the School Committee. Last week, incumbent Jerry Venezia announced his intention not to seek reelection to the post he has held since 1999. Incumbent Julie Koepke, who is completing her first three-year term, is also up for re-election.
Elective offices for 2018
The deadline for candidates to return their nomination papers to the Town Clerk’s office with a minimum of 50 certifiable voters registered to vote in North Reading is Tuesday, March 20 at 5 p.m. All candidates are required to obtain a minimum of 50 signatures from residents who are registered to vote in the town of North Reading to be eligible to be included on the ballot, therefore, Stats advises them to obtain more than the minimum by the deadline.
Seven 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 Board Selectmen (Stephen O’Leary, Kathryn Manupelli);
• One seat for a one-year term for Town Moderator (John Murphy);
• Two seats for three-year terms on the School Community (Gerald Venezia and Julie Koepke);
• Two seats for three-year terms on the Community Planning Commission (William Bellavance and Joseph Veno);
• One seat for a five-year term on the Housing Authority (Joseph Veno).
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., she said. Town Hall will be open late on both of those dates to accommodate voters, as mandated by state law, Stats said. She added that 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.
