Commentary by Frank Schroth

Your town needs you. This election season with one notable exception is developing into a tremendously tepid affair. Only one major town wide seat is being contested – Board of Selectmen.At the moment the Planning Board, School Committee, Library Board of Trustees, Cemetery, and Parks Commission are all one candidate per seat races. At least those seats have candidates. Where town meeting is concerned, there are currently 18 seats that, if no one steps up, will go empty.

The good news is that the town has two committed candidates running for the Board of Selectmen: Denis Keohane, the incumbent, who is finishing his first term, and challenger David Burnes. Both have issued announcements and are making serious efforts to get out in the public eye and inform voters of their positions and policies on issues before the town. The campaign season will ramp up in earnest next week. March 10th is the deadline to file nomination papers. There is still time for movement and it is not uncommon for last minute candidates to jump in but it is a little odd to have so many races uncontested at this late date.

As of now there are:

for School Committee –  two candidates have pulled papers for two seats on the school committee: LeeMichael McLean and Kevin Donahue. Both have returned their papers and will be on the ballot

for Planning Board – two candidates have pulled papers for one seat: Cheryl Tougias and incumbent Ed Duffy. Tougias has filed her papers. Duffy said he was resigning from the Planning Board at their last session. He has not returned papers. The Town Clerk has yet to receive formal notice from Mr. Duffy. At the moment it does not appear he will run for re-election.

for Library Trustee – three candidates have pulled papers for three seats: incumbent Herb Voigt, Andrea Gordon (who previously served on the board), and Paul Hays. Incumbent Barbara Mason has notified the Town Clerk that she will not be running. Incumbent Brendan McLaughlin has not yet pulled papers. It is not expected that he will run. Only Mr. Voigt has returned papers.

for Park Commissioner – one candidate has pulled papers for one seat: Brian Mantville. Incumbent Steve Affanato has not pulled papers and is not expected to be running for rel-election.

The Board of Health, Cemetery Trustee, Treasurer, Town Clerk, and Assessor seats are also going uncontested at this time.

Where do you come in? If none of the above are of interest or feel like too much of a commitment how about town meeting member. As of end of day Friday there are 18 uncontested seats which, if no one steps up, will go empty come town meeting. The number is unlikely to be that high. Incumbents have until tomorrow to file their cards for re-election with the town clerk. If they miss that date they can still run assuming they get nomination papers and submit by March 10th. There will be a bit of a flurry of cards tomorrow at town hall but ~20% of unchallenged seats seems high. Why not run? This is your town. Precincts 1 and 6 in particular are in sorry shape at the moment. You can learn more about what is involved in running from the Town Clerk’s Office. Call them at 617-898-4859.

Here is a breakdown current as of end of business Friday.