Published May 2, 2019
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — Election Day is upon us. North Reading voters will be heading to the polls to elect their representatives in town government on Tuesday, May 7. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
There is one contested race with three candidates for two seats on the School Committee. Incumbent Chairwoman Janene Imbriano is seeking her third consecutive three-year term on the board. Two candidates are seeking their first elective office, Tracy DeGregorio and Chris Pappavaselio. Mel Webster stepped down after nearly 15 years when he moved from town in mid-March, which opened up the race.
There are two candidates for two seats on the Select Board, Liane R. Gonzalez and Richard F. Wallner. Both had run three years ago against the current incumbents, Mike Prisco and Bob Mauceri, who both retained their seats. Both announced their retirement from the board earlier this year.
There are also two candidates for two seats on the Community Planning Commission (CPC), incumbent Chairman Warren R. Pearce Jr. and David L. Rudloff, who is running for the three-year seat vacated by Jonathan Cody, who also moved from town.
Incumbent Town Moderator John J. Murphy (one-year term) and incumbent Housing Authority member James DeCola (five-year term) are both running unopposed.
Absentee ballots available
While Town Clerk Barbara Stats is not expecting a record-setting day at the polls, election workers will be prepared to handle all the foot traffic, which they hope will be significantly more than last year’s local election garnered, in part because there were not contested races.
Registered voters who will be out of town on May 7 or otherwise unavailable when the polls are open may request absentee ballots up until noon on Monday, May 6, either in person or by mail. An absentee ballot can be voted at the counter in the Town Clerk’s office at Town Hall, 235 North St., by noon Monday, or delivered to the Town Hall before the polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Early voting is not an option for local elections.
Preliminary election results will be read aloud by an election worker after the polls close at 8 p.m.
Centralized voting
Voters in all four precincts cast their ballots at the Parish Hall of St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter St. All vehicles must follow the existing traffic pattern by entering the parking lot on the westerly side (closest to Kitty’s).
With the exception of voters needing access to handicap parking spaces, all voters must drive around to the rear of the church and proceed to the east lot to access the hall. Spaces in the rear lot are reserved for election workers. Spaces near the rectory in the west lot are reserved for church staff and visitors.