Election season already heating up in Blackstone

BLACKSTONE — With time winding down for Blackstone residents to file nomination papers before the annual town election April 1, a race is already shaping up for two available three-year seats on the Board of Selectmen.

Election season in Blackstone kicked off Jan. 10, the first day for candidates to obtain nomination papers. The deadline to file papers with signatures of registered voters – a minimum of 35 for town offices and 35 for regional school committee in either town – is no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 11. In addition, regional school district candidates must file a notarized statement of candidacy with the town clerk’s office from the town in which they reside.

There are two three-year seats on the Board of Selectmen up for grabs in the election, one held by incumbent Selectmen Robert J. Dubois and the other by Selectman Michael A. Catalano, Jr. Both Dubois and Catalano have pulled papers along with two other candidates, Catherine Norcross-Melson and Taylor Greene, which would mean a four-way race for the two seats.

Dubois, a Blackstone Democrat, returned to the board in 2013 after having previously served on the panel for 24 years. He was first elected in 1986 and was chairman from 1992 to 2002. He was chairman again up until the spring of 2011 when he was defeated in his re-election bid. He was elected again in 2013 and has served as chairman twice since then.

Catalano is a Democrat and former member of the Blackstone Board Health, Water

and Sewer Commission and Finance Committee.

Other available positions on the ballot this year, include:

• One 3-year term on the Board of Assessors.

• One 4-year term on the Blackstone-Millville Regional District School Committee (Blackstone seat).

• One 4-year term on the Blackstone-Millville Regional District School Committee (Millville seat).

• One 3-year term for collector-treasurer.

• Five 3-year terms for constable.

• One 3-year term on the Board of Health.

• Two 3-year terms on the Parks and Recreation Commission.

• One unexpired term on the Parks and Recreation Commission.

• One 5-year term on the Planning Board.

• One 3-year term as town clerk.

Several other candidates have taken out nomination papers for the following positions:

• Jessika Andreas, Board of Assessors.

• Tammy Lemieux, BMR School Committee (Black-

stone)

• Tara Larkin, BMR School Committee (Millville).

• Kasey Bik, collector-treasurer.

• John Therrien, Frederick Gremza, Cheryl Marino-Page, Rye Rivet, Josh Benjamin and James Cunningham, Constable.

• Celeste Langlois and Brian Joseph Scanlan, Parks and Recreation Commission.

• Jessika Andreas, Parks and Recreation Commission (unexpired).

• Owen Bebeau, Planning Board.

• Tara Sullivan and Maribeth Hagan, Town Clerk.

The town official election calendar is as follows:

• Monday, Feb. 11: Last day to file nomination papers.

• Wednesday, Feb. 27: Last day to withdraw and or object to nomination papers.

• Tuesday, March 12: Last day to register to vote in the annual town election.

• Monday, March 25: Last day to file financial reports.

• Monday, April 1: Annual town election.

• Thursday, April 11: Last day to file a recount petition.