Published in the March 29, 2018 edition

By MAUREEN DOHERTY

NORTH READING – A political newcomer to local politics has announced her candidacy for one of the two open seats on the School Committee in the May 8 Town Election.

Dyana Natale Boutwell of 13 Shasta Drive submitted a letter to Town Clerk Barbara Stats notifying the office of her intention to run as a write-in candidate for a three-year position on the School Committee. 

Boutwell’s announcement came less than a week after the deadline passed for candidates to officially get their name on the town election ballot by submitting nomination papers to the Town Clerk with the signature of at least 50 certified North Reading voters.

There are two open seats on the School Committee in May due to the intention of both incumbents to step down at the end of their terms. Vice Chairman Jerry Venezia and member Julie Koepke are not seeking re-election.

Dyana Boutwell, at left, has announced she is running a write-in campaign for one of two open seats on the School Committee in the May 8 Town Election. This photo was posted to her newly created Facebook page to launch her campaign. (Courtesy Photo)

Officially, the only candidate for the School Committee is Richard F. McGowan of Chestnut Street. He is running for his first three-year term on the school board.

Subsequent to notifying the Town Clerk’s office of her write-in candidacy, Boutwell also started a Facebook page announcing her intention to run.

She introduced herself by stating: “I wanted to send out a brief post to let this community know that I officially declared myself as a write-in candidate for one of the School Committee openings today. I have started a Facebook page to inform voters of who I am and I hope to use the channel (and others) to communicate and continue to hear about what is important to those in our community.”

Boutwell also noted that she intended to attend Monday night’s School Committee meeting. “I’ll be working hard to get my name out there and to meet and talk with many folks as possible in the upcoming weeks before the May 8 election. I hope to gain your support.”

A phone call by the Transcript to Boutwell on Monday was not returned by press time.

Six certified candidates

Six out of seven candidates who pulled nomination papers for a spot on the May 8 Town Election were certified for inclusion on ballot by the 5 p.m. deadline on March 20. Community Planning Commission (CPC) candidate Neal Rooney fell just short of the minimum requirement with 46 certified signatures.

Rooney has the option of running as a write-in candidate for that seat, as does any resident of the town for any of the seats up for election in May.

The remaining five candidates officially on the May 8 Town Election ballot are:

• Incumbent Selectmen Kathryn Manupelli and Steve O’Leary (three-year terms).

• Incumbent CPC Chairman Bill Bellavance (three-year term; one of two openings).

• Incumbent Town Moderator John J. Murphy (one-year term).

• Chuck Carucci, Housing Authority (five-year term)

The last day a certified 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 that day, per state law, according to Stats.

Anyone can run a write-in campaign for any seat on the ballot. Even if both candidates who pulled papers qualified for having their name on the ballot, voters have the option of writing in the name of an undeclared candidate, Stats stated.

The number of write-in options available is equal to the number of seats up for election for each position on the ballot. This means in the case of the Town Moderator and the Housing Authority, for which there is only one position available, the ballot will include the name of the respective candidates plus one write-in line.

For the positions of Selectman, School Committee member and Community Planning Commission member, there will be two write-in options available in addition to the names of the qualified candidates.

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.