Corrected and updated Sept. 25, 2009
The caucus to select candidates for the vacancy on the Board of Selectmen created by the recent resignation of Leo Blair will be held on Sept. 21, at 7 p.m., at Town Hall.
The town caucus is a longstanding New England system for nominating candidates for open positions on town boards. Names of candidates are placed on a ballot in a subsequent election, and officials are ultimately elected by voters.
According to Town Clerk Janet Vellante, a caucus can elect no more than two candidates for each open position. However, the caucus is not the only means by which candidates’ names can be placed on the ballot. Vellante says that anyone interesting in running for the office, and not elected by caucus, can file election papers, which must contain a minimum of 29 certified signatures. Vellante explained that she certifies the signatures by verifying that the signatories are registered to vote at the address given on the election papers.
A caucus is typically brief, lasting less than half an hour. Vellante explains that she opens the meeting and facilitates the election of an officer to preside over the caucus. The presiding officer subsequently facilitates the election of a caucus secretary. With those formalities addressed, the presiding officer entertains nominations from the floor. Anyone present can nominate any registered voters in town, whether those nominees are present or not. If more than two people are nominated, the caucus will vote to choose two candidates. Candidates elected by the caucus and those taking out election papers must subsequently sign those papers at the town clerk’s office. For this election, papers must be signed by 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24.
The election for the open selectman position will take place at the same time as the Dec. 8 statewide primary to choose candidates for the Jan. 19, 2010, state election.
Editor’s note: This article has been corrected and updated. The original article incorrectly stated that the purpose of the Dec. 8 election was to fill the senate see left vacant after the death of Senator Ted Kennedy. The Dec. 8 election is actually a primary.
