Published June 11, 2020
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — Candidate’s statements from the five candidates seeking elective office in the Town Election on Tuesday, June 23 are due on Monday, June 15 at 10 a.m.
This is a service provided to local candidates for elective office by the Transcript each year dating back to our founding in 1956. Candidates may submit statements of up to 600 words detailing their experience, accomplishments and/or goals for office, which will be published free of charge in our June 18 edition. A wallet-size photo may also be included (high-resolution .jpg format). Please submit both electronically to: NRTranscript@RCN.com, noted as “Candidate’s Statement” in the subject line.
Although there are no contested races in this year’s Town Election we feel it is always of the utmost importance to provide ample opportunity for the town’s citizens to learn all they can about the candidates who wish to represent them, as well as the duties and responsibilities of the offices they seek to hold or retain.
We also believe that those who have committed themselves to countless hours tending to the town’s business at the expense of time spent with their own families or devoted to their own careers and hobbies deserve to have the support of their fellow citizens. One good turn deserves another. The least that anyone can do is show up once a year at the polls, located at the Parish Hall of St. Theresa Church, on Election Day, to cast their ballot.
Due to COVID-19, in-person polling hours have been reduced to 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on June 23 (full details published elsewhere in today’s Transcript).
Also due to the concerns surrounding COVID-19 and public health, voters have the opportunity to cast their ballot without entering the polling place with the additional reasons allowed under state law to vote absentee or to cast an early voting ballot. Either ballot may be requested, electronically or by mail, by submitting a written, signed letter for each registered voter in the household desiring one. For more information on voting by mail, call the Town Clerk’s office at 978-357-5230 or visit the town website: https://www.northreadingma.gov/town-clerk/pages/2020-town-election-information.
The last day to register to vote in the Town Election is Friday, June 9. Residents may do so by visiting the www.mass.gov website on the Secretary of State’s page by midnight on deadline day or by visiting Town Hall on Friday only from 2-4 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. Ring the bell and enter only the cordoned off lobby area (near the water witch). Residents will be asked to wear a mask and respect social distancing requirements in place.
The mailing address is: Town Clerk’s Office, Town Hall, 235 North St., North Reading MA 01864.
The 2020 candidates
Incumbents seeking re-election in the 2020 election are: Town Moderator John J. Murphy (one-year term); Community Planning Commission (CPC) member Christopher Hayden (three-year term); School Committee Chairman Scott Buckley (three-year term); and Housing Authority member Mary Prenney (five-year term).
Joining the field is Select Board candidate Vincenzo Stuto in his first bid for elective office. He is a member of the Finance Committee and is seeking a three-year term on the Select Board for the seat currently held by Andrew Schultz who chose not to seek a second term on the board. Schultz has continued to serve even though his term would have ended early last month if the annual Town Election had not been postponed from May 5 due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.