Selectmen, school board seats on ballot in Bellingham

BELLINGHAM – Two seats on the Board of Selectmen and two on the School Committee are among the eight seats up for grabs at the annual town election in May. Election season in Bellingham kicks off on Feb.13, the first day for candidates to obtain nomination papers. Available seats this year include two three-year seats on the Board of Selectmen held by incumbents Michael J. Connor and Cynthia L. McNulty.

Other available seats include two three-year seats on the School Committee held by incumbents Mark J. Flannery and Melissa Jacques; two three-year seats on the Planning Board held by incumbents Dennis T. Trebino and Brian Salisbury; a five-year seat on the Housing Authority held by incumbent Lawrence J. Sposato, Jr.; and a three-year seat on the Board of Library Trustees held by incumbent Lisa Cavossa.

The deadline to obtain nomination papers is March 8 and the deadline to return papers with signatures of registered voters is no later than 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 13.

The annual town election will take place Tuesday, May 1.

The town official election calendar is as follows:

• Tuesday, Feb. 13: First day to obtain nomination papers.

• Thursday, March 8: Last day to obtain nomination papers.

• Tuesday, March 27: Last day to submit nomination papers to town clerk.

• Thursday, March 29: Last day to withdraw and or object to nomination papers.

• Wednesday, April 11: Last day to register to vote in the annual town election.

• Tuesday, May 1: Annual town election.

• Friday, May 11: Last day to file a recount petition.

The Annual Town Meeting this year will be held Wednesday, May 23, and the Special Town Meeting will be held in October on a date to be determined.

A special town election and ballot referendum on marijuana zoning will be held Tuesday, March 6.The state primary election will be held Tuesday, Sept. 4 and the state general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 6.

The first day for candidates to obtain nomination papers for elected state office is Feb. 13.

Three would-be candidates have so far announced their intentions to run for the 8th Worcester District state representative seat, which represents the towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Millville and Uxbridge.

Tossing their hats into the ring recently were Democrats Kevin J. Tagliaferri of Bellingham and Patrick Malone of Uxbridge. They join Republican Michael Soter of Bellingham as potential candidates for the seat, which is being vacated in November by Republican state Rep. Kevin Kuros. Kuros is not seeking re-election and will challenge longtime Worcester Register

of Deeds Anthony J. Vigliotti next year.