Town Elections to Watch in Central Mass

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Monday, May 14, 2012

Sandy Meindersma, GoLocalWorcester Reporter

The annual town election season is in full swing, and with voters in more than a dozen Central Mass towns headed to the polls on Monday and Tuesday, GoLocalWorcester gives you a look at which are the races to watch.

Monday’s Races

Holden
Holden has two races to watch: Selectman, where incumbents Kenneth O’Brien and Anthony Renzoni are being challenged by former selectman Mark Ferguson and political newcomer Jeremy Kurtz and School Committee.

The Wachusett Regional School District Committee race pits incumbent Steve Hammond, recently appointed member Deidre Kosky against challengers Erik Scheinfeldt and Richard McWaters for three seats.

Polls are open from 7am until 8pm.

Paxton
With a three-way race for an open seat on the board of selectmen, a race for Town Clerk, and a Proposition 2 ½ override, Paxton's election could bring some big changes to town.  

In the selectmen’s race, former selectmen Frederick Goodrich and Ronald Johnson are facing off against Raymond Charette. In the other contested race, Town Clerk Susan Stone is being challenged by Kateri Clute.

Voters are being asked to approve a Proposition 2 ½ override of $360,000, which is a permanent tax increase in order to fund the town’s portion of the Wachusett School budget. 

Polls are open from 10 am until 8 pm.

Rutland

The $1.4 million override is the largest issue on the Rutland annual town election ballot. If passed, the money will be used to fund the Wachusett Regional School District budget, and to shore up town services.

Four candidates are competing for two seats on Rutland’s Board of Selectmen; incumbents Joseph Becker and Michael Pantos are being challenged by Joseph Dell’Aquila and Robert Halverson.

Becker said residents seemed very aware of the town's budget issues.  "I hope we have a high turnout," he said.  "There are certainly strong opinions on both sides, but that is part of the process and it's healthy."

Polls are open from 10 am until 8 pm.

Hudson

The Board of Selectmen has three seats available: two three year seats and one seat for one year, to fill a vacancy on the board.

Incumbents Joseph Durant and James Vereault are being challenged by Michael Bloomer for the three year seats. Three candidates: Fred Lucy II, John Parent and Cipriano Pinto are vying for the one year seat that is available due to a vacancy on the board.

Also on the ballot is a debt exclusion question to that will cover Hudson’s portion of the Assabet Valley Regional Vocational High School renovation project.

Polls are open from 7 am until 8 pm.

Bolton

Bolton has two candidates vying for an open seat on the Board of Selectmen: Connie Benjamin and Lawrence Delaney. Polls are open from noon until 8 pm.

Northborough 

Northborough’s selectman’s race has two longtime selectmen: Jeff Amberson and Bill Pantazis running against Lisa Maselli and Howie Stone Jr. for two seats on the board. 

Polls are open 7 am until 8 pm.

Southborough

Incumbent Selectman William Boland is facing challenger Leo Bartollini Jr.

Towns without Major Races

Berlin’s only contested race is for the Board of Health. Boylston has races for the Board of Light Commissioners, Parks and Recreation and for Planning Board. Princeton’s only contested race is for the Board of Light Commissioners. Polls in all three towns are open from noon until 8 pm. 

Tuesday’s Races

Auburn
In a race that has gotten both personal and nasty, Michael Robidoux, who ran unsuccessfully for school committee in 2011, is challenging incumbent selectmen Doreen Goodrich and Timothy Hicks; two seats on the Board of Selectmen are available. 

Town Clerk Ellen Gaboury, who originally was facing an opponent, said she did not like to see it when races turn ugly,  "But that's the nature of it," she said.  Gaboury also said that she expected a relatively light turnout.  

"I would think about 20 percent.  I base my expectations on the requests for absentee ballots," she said.  

This year marks the first time Auburn’s annual election has been held on a Tuesday. Polls are open from 8 am until 8 pm.

Grafton
Grafton has two races to watch: selectman and school committee. In the Selectman’s race, Planning Board chairman Bruce Spinney is looking to unseat incumbent Brook Padgett. In the School Committee race, Margaret McDonald is challenging incumbents Peter Carlson and Kathleen Halloran.

Polls are open from 8 am until 8 pm.

Oxford has no races on its ballot this year, according to senior clerk Ann Morgan-Tate. Polls will be open from 8 am until 8 pm.
 

Related Articles

• The Gloves Are Off in Holden’s Annual Town Election
• Grafton Voter Options: Consistency or New Perspective
• Northborough Selectman’s Race: Is It Time for Someone New?
• Rutland 2 1/2 Override To Cost $500 per Household
• Auburn Town Election: Who’s Accusing Candidates of Corruption?
• Holden Pols Take Aim at School Budget at Candidates’ Night

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