By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — Every third year in the Town Election cycle only one seat opens up on each of the town’s five-member boards – Select Board, School Committee and Community Planning Commission.
This is the year that one candidate will be seated on each of these three boards. Since the nomination process opened on January 17, all three incumbents have pulled their nomination papers, which must be returned by Tuesday, March 14 at 5 p.m. with a minimum of 50 certified signatures of registered voters who reside in town. The signatures are certified by the Town Clerk’s office.
The three incumbents are Select Board Vice Chair Vincenzo Stuto, School Committee Chairman Scott Buckley and Community Planning Commission (CPC) Vice Chair Christopher Hayden.
Also on the ballot annually is the Town Moderator’s position, which is a one-year term. John J. Murphy is the incumbent.
This week, the Transcript caught up with Stuto to ask him why he has decided to run for his second consecutive three-year term.
“After careful consideration and with support from my family, I have decided to run for re-election for the Select Board. Although difficult at times to juggle the demands of a robust business and a family life with four small children along with the demands of a voluntary public service role, I feel that it is important that I continue to serve the town and bring my financial expertise to the Select Board,” Stuto stated.
He continued, “Over the last 2.5 years of my term, there has been much that the town has accomplished, but there is also much more to be done in keeping the town finances stable. In working on various projects throughout my current term, I have seen what the town and its residents can do when working together and am excited for North Reading’s future.”
Nomination papers and candidates’ packets can be picked up at the Town Clerk’s Office in Town Hall, 235 North St., during normal business hours, Mondays–Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., according to Town Clerk Susan Duplin. Those with any questions on the Town Election process may call her office at 978-357-5218 or visit the Town Clerk’s page on the town website at northreadingma.gov.
It is always recommended that candidates obtain more than the minimum number of signatures in case some signatures cannot be certified by the Town Clerk’s Office. The deadline to submit papers to the Town Clerk’s Office is Tuesday, March 14 at 5 p.m. and the office will remain open one hour later that day.
The positions on the ballot in 2023 are:
SELECT BOARD
One three-year term. Incumbent is current Vice Chair Vincenzo Stuto, 122 Elm St.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
One three-year term. Incumbent is current Chair Scott T. Buckley, 5 Alden St.
COMMUNITY PLANNING COMMISSION
One three-year term. Incumbent is current Vice Chair Christopher B. Hayden, 20 Swan Pond Rd.
TOWN MODERATOR
One one-year term. Incumbent is John J. Murphy, 13 Duane Dr.