By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — Each candidate-hopeful in the May 3 annual Town Election submitted the required number of certified signatures (50 North Reading registered voters) to earn their spot on the ballot, according to Town Clerk Susan Duplin.
Those signatures were all certified after press time last week. Among them were six candidates for two open seats on the School Committee: Courtney C. Greene, 18 Magnolia St.; Kristen M. Omara, 5 Damon St.; John P. Barrette, 2 Dogwood Ln., Jodi Cloney, 365 Park St.; Jeffery L. Friedman, 51 Lindor Rd.; and Noelle Rudloff, 29 Duane Dr.
However, this week the Transcript was notified by the Town Clerk’s office that Greene has opted to withdraw her name from the ballot, reducing the field to five candidates for the two three-year terms. Both incumbents, Janene Imbriano and Chris Pappavaselio, opted not to run for re-election.
All candidates are given the option to withdraw from the race; however, the last day to do so and not have one’s name printed on the ballot is Thursday, March 31. The names of candidates who withdraw after that date will still appear on the ballot because of printing deadlines.
In addition, the last day for a resident of North Reading to register to vote in time to participate in the Town Election is Wednesday, April 13.
The School Committee remains the only race on the ballot.
The following candidates certified for inclusion on the ballot are running unopposed:
On the Select Board, both incumbents, Liane R. Gonzalez, 4 Clover Rd., and Richard F. Wallner, 57 Lakeside Blvd., are seeking re-election to their second three-year term on the board.
On the Community Planning Commission, both incumbents, Warren R. Pearce Jr., 219 Haverhill St., and David Rudloff, 29 Duane Dr., are seeking re-election to three-year terms on the board.
Town Moderator John J. Murphy is seeking to retain his one-year term in that position which he has held for the past 17 years.
• Incumbent Housing Authority member Michele Mawn, 5 John Bickford Way, is seeking to fill the remaining three years on the five-year seat formerly held by Mary Prenney rather than the five-year seat she currently holds that is up for renewal.
Sherri Greer, 8 Voke St., a newcomer to elective office, is seeking the five-year open term currently held by Mawn on the Housing Authority.