By Beth David, Editor
Both Fairhaven and Acushnet will hold elections on Monday, 4/2/18 for town offices. Nomination papers are available until 2/8. Candidates then are required to gather the proper number of signatures and return papers by end of business on Monday, 2/12.
In Fairhaven, papers for town-wide seats require 50 certified signatures; papers for town meeting members require 10 certified signatures from your precinct.
Fairhaven has a representative TM, meaning that only those elected as representatives of their precincts may vote. Each of the 6 precincts have approximately 60 seats, with one third up for election every year.*
Town Meeting (TM) incumbents do not have to gather signatures, but they must file a written request for re-election with the town clerk’s office.
According to Fairhaven Town Clerk Eileen Lowney, only one person had taken out papers* for Town Meeting as of last Friday.
Seats up for re-election are: Bob Espindola on Selectboard; Donna McKenna and Colin Veitch on School Committee; Lindsay Gordon on Board of Health; Colleen Sylvia, Commissioner of Trust Funds; Robert Hobson and Keith Silvia for Board of Public Works; John Farrell and Peter Nopper on Planning Board; Gregory Tutcik on Housing Authority; a vacant, unexpired term on HA; Mark Sylvia for Moderator; Brian Bowcock for Tree Warden.
Mr. Espindola has taken out papers for re-election but had not returned them in time for this story; Michael Silvia, a former Selectboard member, took out papers for Board of Health, with Ms. Gordon reportedly not running because she has moved out of town; Mr. Tutcik returned his papers for HA; Mr. Farrell has not returned his yet; moderator Mrk Sylvia returned papers for his seat.
Tree Warden Brian Bowcock took out papers, but had not returned them in time for this story. G. Bourne Knowles also took out papers for Tree Warden, but had not returned them.
Both School Committee incumbents, Ms. McKenna and Mr. Veitch, took out papers, but had not returned them.
In what could turn out to be an honest-goodness contest, three people have taken out papers for two seats on the BPW: Mr. Hobson has returned papers for his seat; Keith Silvia took out papers but had not returned them in time for this story; and Albert Martin took out papers, but had not returned them.
For informationon how to run for office, contact the Fairhaven Town Clerk at 508-979-4022, Ext. 3. Town hall address is 40 Center Street, Fairhaven, MA 02719.
Tuesday, March 13, 2018, is the last day for town residents to register to vote in the town election. The clerk’s office will be open until 8 p.m. that day.
For details on Acushnet’s election, see page 16.
*Fixes errors from previous versions.
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