NORTH READING – The public is invited to Candidates Night presented by the North Reading Republican Town Committee at Kitty’s Restaurant, 123 Main St. (rear function room) on Tuesday, April 29. Doors Open at 6:15 p.m.
Candidates on the May 6 Town Election ballot are as follows:
Select Board (two three-year terms): Incumbent Rich Wallner; new candidates Jeff Griffin, Michael Scarlata and Catherine Morrin
Community Planning Commission (one two-year term): Appointed CPC member Ed Sheehan and challenger Jonathan Coste
Community Planning Commission (two three-year terms): Incumbents Dave Rudloff and Warren Pearce
School Committee (two three-year terms): Incumbents Jeff Friedman and Noelle Rudloff
Town Moderator (one-year term): Incumbent: John Murphy
Housing Authority (one five-year term): Charles Carucci
The North Reading Republican Town Committee (NRRTC) has sponsored Candidates Night since 2018. The 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,” stated NRRTC Chairman Jeff Yull.
The NRRTC has identified five significant issues intertwined into 36 warrant articles facing taxpayers of North Reading in June: Education budget; changing of the town bylaws to accommodate the MBTA Communities 3A Act; Capital Improvement Plan; feasibility study for a west side fire station; and value engineering study for the current fire station.
ORDER OF EVENTS
The Candidates Night agenda is as follows:
• 6:15pm: Doors open for dinner
• 7:00pm: Pledge of Allegiance, presented by North Reading Boy Scouts Troop 750
• 7:05pm: Introduction and Recognitions
• 7:15pm: Town Moderator: John Murphy (Incumbent)
• 7:20pm: Housing Authority: Charles (Chuck) Carucci
Opening Statement (3 minutes each candidate)
Two-Year Term (Community Planning Commission-CPC)
• 7:25pm: Jonathan Coste Challenger
• 7:28pm: Edward Sheehan (Secretary)
Three Year Term:
• 7:31pm: CPC Dave Rudloff (Incumbent) Chairman
• 7:34pm: CPC, Warren Pearce (Incumbent)
• 7:37pm: School Committee Jeffrey Friedman (Incumbent)
• 7:40pm: School Committee Noelle Rudloff (Incumbent)
• 7:43pm: Select Board Richard Wallner (Incumbent)
• 7:46pm: Select Board Catherine Morrin (Challenger)
• 7:49pm: Select Board Michael Scarlata (Challenger)
• 7:52pm: Select Board Jeff Griffin (Challenger)
• 7:55pm: Question & Answer
Closing statements if time allows.
The role of the NRRTC is 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 delayed broadcast on NORCAM’s public access channel. Check your cable listing for their channel.
NRRTC Scholarship Fund
“Please be gracious by donating to the NRRTC Scholarship Fund. This is the 12th anniversary of the fund. Because of the generosity of contributors like you we can offer a $1,000 scholarship. All donations, small or large, help pay for a student’s tuition, which is paid directly to the educational institution chosen by the recipient. Students must reside in North Reading. Homeschooled students and four-year trade schools are included when the cost is paid for by the student. It is the NRRTC’s hope the scholarship will be designated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2026, making your donation tax deductible,” said Yull.