By Beth David, Editor
Unless there’s a last minute withdrawal from someone, the Fairhaven election field is set, and it promises to be a spirited election season, with contested races in five contests: Select Board, School Committee, Board of Health, and two races for Planning Board.
Six people will be on the ballot for the two open Select Board seats. Neither incumbent is running for reelection on that board. The six who are running for Select Board are Patrick Carr, JP Lemieux, Donna McKenna, Cathy Melanson, Andrew Romano, and Andrew Saunders.
For School Committee, there are three candidates who will be on the ballot for two full term seats: incumbent Colin Veitch, Erik W. Baumann, Nicole Marie Pacheco.
School Committee also has a one-year unexpired term to fill that Ms. Pacheco was appointed to fill. She, however, opted to run for the full seat, so the unexpired term only has one candidate, Brendalee Smith.
Board of Health will also have a contested race, with two people running for one open seat. The incumbent did not see reelection. Barbara Acksen, who has served on that board in the past, and Sheila Dolan will vie for that spot.
The Planning Board has two seats up for reelection, with incumbents Jessica Fidalgo and Jeff Lucas both running for reelection. Diane Tomassetti, who had been appointed to fill a vacated seat, opted to run for a full term spot, so there are three people running for two full time seats on PB.
The PB also has a one year unexpired term to fill, with three people running for that: Karyn Lyn Ferreira, Despina Longinidis, Richard Trapilo.
There are also some uncontested races on the ballot, including: Board of Public Works, with incumbent Robert “Hoppy” Hobson, and newcomer Hillary Kesner Rotondo, running for those seats; Commission of Trust Funds, with incumbent Coleen Silvia running for her seat; Fairhaven Housing Authority, with Jay Simmons, who used to serve on the board, poised to be back, since incumbent Anne Silveira opted not to run for reelection; Town Moderator, with incumbent Mark Sylvia running for reelection.
Candidates have until 2/28 to change their minds and withdraw from the election.
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).
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.
Call the town clerk’s office, 508-979-4023, ext. 3, if you have any questions, or go by town hall, 40 Center Street, Fairhaven.
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