Annual town election papers are drawn
By Caitlyn Kelleher Journal Reporter

Selectman Peter McMurray seeks re-election

It is an incumbent-filled election at the upcoming Annual Town Election.

Town Clerk Lorraine Pease said only incumbents had taken out nomination papers by the deadline on Monday, March 5. The only seat no one took out nomination papers for is the three-year term on the Cemetery Commission.

"They can do it as a write-in," Pease said.

She expects there to be a write-in candidate. If there is, the seat is treated like a typical election; who ever gets the most votes wins the seat.

The selectmen will become involved if the person who is written in declines the seat or if no one is written in, she said. The selectmen will appoint someone to the commission for one year, so the term would expire at the next annual election.

The commission experienced complete turnover in the spring when all three board members resigned after a public outcry regarding the treatment of one of the graves.

Alan Murray and Mark Tiilikkala were each appointed until the upcoming election and Daniel Harju fills the third spot on the commission. Harju was elected in the spring of 2006 for three years.

Tiilikkala has withdrawn papers to seek the one-year term on the commission, said Pease.

The other open seats all have incumbents seeking re-election: Peter Rouke as town moderator; Peter McMurray for the Board of Selectmen; Alan Pease for the Planning Board; Kate Stacy as treasurer; William Davis as constable; Lorraine Pease as town clerk; and Denis Moore to the North Middlesex Regional School Committee.

Board of Assessors member Jody Masse is running for re-election but she is now listed as Jody Szczesuil on the ballot.

The Library Board of Trustees has four seats open. Maureen Davi and Matthew Alfond are both running for re-election, while selectmen-appointed Mark Lapaham and Anne Reggio are also running to stay on the board.

The final nomination papers with the signatures were due back Wednesday after press time.