By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — The Town Election may be nearly four months away, but nomination papers for candidates became available Tuesday for this annual rite of spring.
January 16 was the first day nomination papers were available to candidates seeking to run in the Tuesday, May 7, 2024 election.
“We had our first person bright and early this morning!” Assistant Town Clerk Stephanie Connolly informed the Transcript on Tuesday.
Incumbent School Committee member Richard F. McGowan of 46 Chestnut St. was the first person to pull nomination papers the morning they became available. McGowan will be running for his third consecutive three-year term.
According to Town Clerk Susan Duplin, nomination papers and candidates’ packets can be picked up at office of the Town Clerk in Town Hall, 235 North St. during normal business hours, Mondays–Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Nomination papers must be returned no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19. The Town Clerk’s office will remain open an hour later that day.
In order for a candidate to be placed on the ballot, a minimum of 50 certified signatures of registered voters residing in town must be turned in with the nomination papers. It is always recommended that candidates obtain more than the minimum number of signatures in case some cannot be certified by the Town Clerk’s Office.
There are other important deadlines in the Town Election cycle. The deadline to file withdrawals or objections to all nomination papers is Thursday, April 4 at 5 p.m. The last day a resident may register to vote to participate in the May 7 Town Election is Saturday, April 27. The Town Clerk’s office will be open that day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Those with any questions on the Town Election process may call the Town Clerk’s Office at 978-357-5230 or visit the Town Clerk’s page on the town website at northreadingma.gov/town-clerk and look at the right side of the screen where they’ll see the title: “Information to Candidates 2024.”
The positions on the ballot in 2024 are:
SELECT BOARD
Two three-year terms. The incumbents up for reelection this year are Kathryn Manupelli and Stephen O’Leary.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Two three-year terms. The incumbents up for reelection this year are Dyana Boutwell and Rich McGowan.
COMMUNITY PLANNING COMMISSION
Two three-year terms. The incumbents up for reelection this year are: Ryan Carroll and Jerimiah Johnston
TOWN MODERATOR
One one-year term. The incumbent is John J. Murphy
HOUSING AUTHORITY
One five-year term: James DeCola