All three of the Tri-Towns have a potential contest for a selectmen’s seat in the 2021 Annual Town Elections.
Two chairmen, Rochester’s Paul Ciaburri and Marion’s Randy Parker, are both running for reelection. In Mattapoisett, longtime Selectman Paul Silva’s seat will be contested by Jodi Lynn Bauer, Nicki Demakis, and former Selectman Tyler Macallister, who all pulled nomination papers last month. Macallister vacated his seat last year to interview for the town administrator job that went to Mike Lorenco. Macallister then ran for selectman and lost to John DeCosta Jr. Demakis returned papers on Monday.
Also vacating a reelection bid in Mattapoisett are Highway Surveyor Barry Denham and School Committee member Carole Clifford. School Committee Chairman Jim Muse is running for reelection, and Eric Beauregard has pulled papers to run for a School Committee seat. Garrett Bauer and Gary Bowman have both pulled papers to run for Denham’s seat as Highway Surveyor.
Other Mattapoisett incumbents running for reelection include Russell Bailey, Board of Health; John Eklund, Moderator; Leda Kim, Housing Authority; Leonard Coppolla, Assessor; Karen Field, Planning Board; Charles McCullough, Community Preservation Committee; Albert Mennino, Water/Sewer Commissioner; and Public Library Trustees William Osier and Elizabeth Sylvia. Community Preservation Committee member Michelle Hughes is the only Mattapoisett incumbent who had not pulled papers as of March 8.
In Rochester, as of March 8, Ciaburri, Jana Cavanagh of the Board of Assessors, Tree Warden Jeffrey Eldridge, Dale Barrows of the Board of Health, and Robin Rounseville of the School Committee have pulled nomination papers to run for reelection (all seats are three-year terms). Eldridge has returned papers.
Non-incumbents running this year in Rochester include Richard. A. Munroe, Water Commission; Shauna A. Makuch, Library Trustees; and Dennis P. McCarthy, Planning Board.
Other incumbents in Rochester whose three-year terms expire in 2021 include Kirby Gilmore, Town Moderator; Gary Florindo, Planning Board; Lee Carr, Planning Board; Jordan Pouliot, Plumb Library Trustee; Gloria Vincent, Plumb Library Trustee; Kenneth Ross, Park Commission; Michael Conway, Water Commission; Tina Rood, Rochester School Committee; and Rood and Chairperson Cary Humphrey on the Old Rochester Regional School Committee.
Rochester’s Town Election is scheduled for Wednesday, May 26. Nomination papers are available at Town Hall by appointment only. Papers returned must include a minimum of 30 signatures and be filed (by appointment only) by Wednesday, March 31, at 5:00 pm.
In Marion, papers have also been returned by incumbent Dr. John Howard, whose term on the Board of Health expires this year.
Other incumbents who have pulled papers in Marion include George T.J. Walker, Assessor; Brad Gordon, Moderator; Andrew Daniel, vice-chairman of the Planning Board; and three Marion School Committee members whose terms are up: April Rios, Mary Beauregard, and Chairperson Michelle Ouellette Smith. Alan Harris, the vice-chairman of the Open Space Acquisition Commission, had not pulled papers as of March 8.
Jonathan F. Henry, not an incumbent, has pulled papers for a seat on Marion’s Planning Board; Kristen Saint Don-Campbell, whose term is expiring, resigned from her post earlier this winter due to scheduling conflicts.
Marion’s Town Election will be held on Friday, May 14, at the Cushing Community Center, and the Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 10. Nomination papers are available and must be returned by Monday, March 22, at 5:00 pm. Except for town moderator (one year), all Marion seats up for election are three-year terms.
Key dates in Mattapoisett are as follows: March 26 at 5:00 pm is the deadline to request nomination papers, and March 30 at 1:00 pm is the filing deadline with the Board of Registrars. April 13 is the last day to submit papers to the town clerk, and April 15 is the final day to object or withdraw. Tuesday, April 20, is the last day to register to vote for Annual Town Meeting, and Wednesday, April 28, is the last day to register to vote in the Annual Town Election. Monday, May 3, is the last day to publish or post the warrant for Mattapoisett’s Annual Town Meeting, which will be held on Monday, May 10, at 6:30 pm at Old Rochester Regional High School. Tuesday, May 11, is the last day to publish or post the warrant for Annual Town Election, which will be held on Tuesday, May 18, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm at Old Hammondtown School.
By Mick Colageo