By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — In addition to ushering in new beginnings, a new year also kicks off Town Election season.
Elected officials and prospective candidates looking to run for office will be able to pull nomination papers at the Town Clerk’s Office starting on Thursday, Jan. 4 at 8:30 a.m. The Town Clerk’s Office has been relocated to Senior Center/Lynnfield Public Schools Central Office, 525 Salem St., due to construction of the new $63.5 million public safety buildings and Town Hall project getting underway this month.
The Town Election, which will take place on Tuesday, April 9, will feature nine offices appearing on the ballot, including four School Committee seats.
Newly elected School Committee Chair Kate DePrizio informed the Villager on Tuesday afternoon that she will be running for a second three-year term this spring. School Committee member Phil McQueen announced during Tuesday’s meeting that he will not be running for a third three-year term.
Acting Superintendent Tom Geary also announced during Tuesday’s meeting that two additional School Committee seats will be appearing on the Town Election ballot in the wake of former Chair Rich Sjoberg and Vice Chair Stacy Dahlstedt’s resignations last week.
Another question heading into election season is which candidates will be looking to succeed Town Moderator Joe Markey. He recently announced that he will not be running for a sixth one-year term due to family and professional responsibilities.
Besides the School Committee and town moderator positions, the Town Election also includes a three-year term for Select Board. Select Board Chair Joe Connell is eligible to run for a second three-year term.
Planning Board member Amy MacNulty will be able to run for a full five-year term in the April Town Election. She has been serving the remaining three years of former Planning Board member Tom Wallace’s term.
Library Trustees members Russell Boekenkroeger and Andrew Kenneally will each have the option to run for three-year terms.
Board of Assessors Chair Donald Garrity is eligible to run for a fifth three-year term.
Candidates will need to receive the signatures of 50 registered voters in order to have their name appear on the ballot. The last day to submit nomination papers is Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. The last day for candidates to have their name removed from the municipal ballot is Thursday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m.