It looks like Fairhaven will have more than one contested race this election, with six people vying for two seats on the Select Board; and six people taking out papers for Planning Board, three of them for the two four-year seats, and three of them for the one-year unexpired term.
Four people also took out papers for School Committee, although three of them took out papers for both the three-year seats (there are two) and the one-year unexpired term. They can only return papers for one seat.’
Nomination papers for all town-wide elected positions and Town Meeting are available in Fairhaven until Thursday, 2/8. Papers must be returned with the proper number of signatures by Monday, 2/12. The last day to withdraw papers is Wednesday, 2/28.
Town-wide offices require 50 signatures; town meeting requires 10 signatures from the precinct in which you are running.
Call the town clerk’s office, 508-979-4023, ext. 3, for more information on how to run for office in Fairhaven.
The six people who have taken out papers for Select Board are Patrick Carr, JP Lemieux, Donna McKenna, Cathy Melanson, Andrew Romano, and Andrew Saunders. As of press time, Mr. Lemieux and Ms. Melanson had not returned papers, the other four candidates have.
For School Committee, there are two full term seats available, held by Colin Veitch and Donna McKenna. Mr. Veitch took out papers for his seat, but has not returned them. Ms. McKenna decided to run for Select Board.
SC also has a one-year unexpired term on the ballot, which is currently held by Nicole Pacheco, who was appointed to fill Kyle Bueno’s seat.
Ms. Pacheco, Erik Baumann, and Brendalee Smith all took out papers for both a three-year seat and the one-year unexpired term. They can only return papers for one.
Planning Board saw some new action since our last update. Jessica Fidalgo and Jeff Lucas have taken out papers for their full term seats. Diane Tomassetti, who currently is serving the unexpired term vacated by David Braga, has opted to pull papers for the full term seat, not the unexpired term. Both Ms. Fidalgo and Ms. Tomassetti have returned papers. Mr. Lucas had not as of press time. If he does return papers, then there will be three people running for two full term seats.
For the unexpired term on PB, which has one year left to serve, there are now three people who have taken out papers: Lindsay Hill, Despina Longinidis, and Karyn Ferreira. None had returned papers by press time.
The Board of Health might also have a contested race, with two people taking out papers for one seat that was held by Kevin Gallagher, who has announced that he will not run for re-election. Barbara Acksen and Sheila Dolan have taken out papers. Neither one had returned them by press time.
There are also several uncontested races on the ballot, including Board of Public Works. Don Collasius, the Tree Warden, has decided not to return his papers for BPW (see letter on page 17), so that board has two people running for the two seats, with Robert “Hoppy” Hobson running for re-election, and Hillary Rotundo running for the other seat held by Travis Rapoza, who, presumably is not running for re-election. He has not taken out papers and he is enrolled at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government this year. Mr. Hobson has returned papers, Ms. Rotundo had not by press time.
Two other uncontested races will be on the ballot, so far: Town Moderator Mark Sylvia has taken out papers for his seat but had not returned them by press time; Colleen Silvia has returned papers for her seat on the Commissioner of Trust Funds.
You may register to vote Monday–Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The last day to register to vote for the town election is Friday, 3/22/24. The Town Clerk’s Office will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on that day.
Mail-in Voter Registration Forms are available at the Town Clerk’s Office, the Millicent Library and State and Federal offices. Monday, 3/25, is the last day to submit vote-by-mail applications to the Town Clerk.
The election will be held on Monday, 4/1/24. Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. All six precincts vote at the Fairhaven Recreation Center, 227 Huttleston Ave. (near Stop & Shop).
Call the town clerk’s office, 508-979-4023, ext. 3, if you have any questions.
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