Published April 30, 2020
NORTH READING — Voters are reminded that the Annual Town Election, which would normally be held next week on Tuesday, May 5 as provided under the Town Charter, was postponed on April 6 by vote of the Select Board and is now scheduled for Tuesday, June 23, with in-person voting at St. Theresa Church Hall limited to the hours of 12 noon to 6 p.m.
These changes were made under the provisions of Chapter 45 of the Acts of 2020 and Mass General Laws, as precautions due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
“Due to this pandemic, and the uncertainty of conditions even later in June, voters are encouraged to vote by mail in the safety and protection of their own home rather than in-person at the church,” stated Town Clerk Barbara Stats.
Applications for an early voting or absentee ballot can be found on the Town Clerk’s website or by submitting a signed letter requesting a ballot to: Town Clerk’s Office, North Reading Town Hall, 235 North St., North Reading, MA 01864.
See the Town Clerk’s website at: https://www.northreadingma.gov/town-clerk for complete information.
Candidate’s statements
As a public service, the Transcript will uphold its tradition of publishing a statement from each candidate, along with a photograph, in the edition published closest to the election, on Thursday, June 18. Such statements can be biographical, issue-oriented or a combination of the two. There are no contested races in this year’s election and four of the five candidates are incumbents.
Running for re-election are Town Moderator John Murphy (one-year term), School Committee Chairman Scott Buckley and Community Planning Commission member Christopher Hayden (three-year terms), and Housing Authority member Mary Prenney (five-year term). Running for his first three-year term on the Select Board is Vincenzo Stuto, who is currently a member of the Finance Committee. He is running for the seat currently held by Select Board member Andrew Schultz who chose not to seek re-election. While Schultz’s term under ordinary circumstances would have ended after the May 5 election, he will remain on the board for an extra seven weeks until the postponed election is held.