By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — Thirty years after he first stepped forward to serve on the Community Planning Commission, Warren Pearce Jr., 219 Haverhill St., took out nomination papers on Monday for the May 3, 2022 Town Election.
Pearce is the current chairman of the CPC. There are two three-year terms up for renewal on the five-member CPC in this election cycle. The other incumbent up for re-election, David Rudloff, 29 Duane Dr., has not yet declared his intention to run for his second term.
However, interest in the School Committee race continues to grow. Last Thursday, Feb. 24, Noelle M. Rudloff, 29 Duane Dr., became the sixth person to take out nomination papers for one of the two three-year terms on the School Committee.
Other potential hopefuls who have withdrawn nomination papers for the School Committee are: Kristen M. Omara, 5 Damon St.; Courtney C. Greene, 18 Magnolia St.; John P. Barrette, 2 Dogwood Ln.; Jodi Cloney, 365 Park St.; and Jeffery L. Friedman, 51 Lindor Rd.
The two incumbents, Janene Imbriano and Chris Pappavaselio, have not declared their intentions as of press time.
Candidates vying for seats in all offices have until Tuesday, March 15 to return their nomination papers to the Town Clerk’s office with a minimum of 50 certifiable signatures of North Reading voters.
At Monday night’s Select Board meeting, a 5-0 vote was taken to place the partial term for the Housing Authority previously held by Mary Prenney on the May 3 ballot. Housing Authority seats typically are five-year terms. Prenney stepped down Dec. 31, 2021 as she was about to retire as the Director of Elder Affairs after the first of the year and she and her husband have moved to Boston. Michele Mawn, 5 John Bickford Way, whose five-year term on the Housing Authority is up for re-election May 3, previously took out nomination papers for the remaining three years of Prenney’s term. No candidate has yet taken out papers for the five-year seat Housing Authority seat.
Current Select Board members Liane R. Gonzalez of 4 Clover Rd. and Richard Wallner of 57 Lakeside Blvd. have taken out nomination papers to retain their respective seats in what would be their second three-year terms.
Town Moderator John J. Murphy, 13 Duane Drive, has taken out papers to retain his seat. It is the only one-year term on the ballot. He has served as moderator since 2004.
Elective offices for 2022
The following seats are up for election this year. The names of incumbents are listed in parentheses:
• Two seats for three-year terms on the Select Board (Liane Gonzalez and Richard Wallner);
• Two seats for three-year terms on the School Committee (Janene Imbriano and Chris Pappavaselio);
• Two seats for three-year terms on the Community Planning Commission (Warren Pearce and David Rudloff);
• One seat for a one-year term for Town Moderator (John Murphy);
• One seat for a five-year term on the Housing Authority (Michele Mawn);
• One seat for the remaining three years of a five-year term (Mary Prenney, who resigned Dec. 31, 2021 after retiring and moving from town).
Candidates for any municipal office are required to file campaign finance reports on specific dates per the provisions of Mass. General Laws Chapter 55. Those with questions about this process may contact the state’s Office of Campaign and Political Finance.