NORTH READING — The public is invited to attend Candidates Night on Tuesday, April 30 during which all candidates for elective office in the annual Town Election have been invited to participate.
The event will take place at Kitty’s Restaurant, 123 Main St., in the rear function room. Doors open at 6:30 p.m and the program will begin at 7 p.m.
“The North Reading Republican Town Committee has sponsored ‘Candidates Night’ since 2018. Our purpose is to give voters the opportunity to get to know candidates wishing to represent them. The local level of representation is just as important as the national arena, many times even more so, since the decisions have a direct impact on property values, children’s education, town stability and growth,” commented NRRTC Chairman Jeff Yull. “There are four new candidates who will have an opportunity to introduce themselves and share their vision for North Reading. There are six incumbents who can talk about the exciting activity generated during their term.”
The candidates are: Town Moderator (one-year term): John Murphy; Housing Authority (five-year term): James DeCola (incumbent); School Committee (two three-year terms): Richard McGowan (incumbent), Jennifer Leenders (challenger) and Timothy Sutherland (challenger); Community Planning Commission (two three-year terms): Ryan Carroll (incumbent) and Maxwell Murphy (challenger); Select Board (two three-year terms): Stephen O’Leary (incumbent), Kathryn Manupelli (incumbent) and Nick Masse (challenger).
The NRRTC has identified five significant issues facing taxpayers of North Reading:
- Wastewater Project
- Proposition 2 ½ Override
- ADU (Affordable Dwelling Units)
- Stretch & Super Stretch Code Mandate.
- MBTA Adjacent Communities Compliance
The NRRTC offered its thanks to Debbie Birkmaier of Kitty’s “who has graciously reserved their function room for this important event,” Yull said.
“The role of the NRRTC is simply to be the vehicle to connect the candidates to the voters of North Reading. It will be live streamed on the NRRTC Facebook page and recorded live for later broadcast on NORCAM’s public access channel. Check your cable listing for their channel,” added Yull.
Agenda
The agenda for Candidates Night is as follows:
- 6:30pm: Doors Open
- 7:00pm: Pledge of Allegiance
- 7:05pm: Introduction
- 7:15pm: Town Moderator John Murphy (Incumbent)
- 7:20pm: Housing Authority James DeCola (incumbent)
- 7:25pm: Community Planning Commission Ryan Carroll (Incumbent)
- 7:30pm: Community Planning Commission Maxwell Murphy
- 7:35pm: School Committee Richard McGowan (Incumbent)
- 7:40pm: School Committee*
- 7:45pm: School Committee*
- 7:50pm: Select Board Kathryn Manupelli (Incumbent)
- 7:55pm: Select Board Stephen O’Leary (Incumbent)
- 8:00pm: Select Board Nick Masse (Challenger)
- 8:05pm: Question & Answer
*Candidates will flip a coin to determine who speaks first.
11th annual NRRTC Scholarship
Eleven years ago the NRRTC established a non-partisan $750 scholarship intended to promote higher education and help to offset its expenses. It is open to all graduating students who reside in North Reading, including those who attend high school outside of town or who are home-schooled. Applicants are required to write an essay answering the prompt: “What the American Flag Means to Me.”
The deadline to apply for this year’s award is midnight on April 30, 2024, and the recipient must be accepted by a college/university, or four-year trade school by this deadline. No financial information is necessary.
The award is announced at the student’s graduation ceremony and presented on Flag Day (June 14) annually at a ceremony on the town common where the is sent directly to the recipient’s college, or four-year trade school of choice prior to the start of his/her freshman first semester.