This week we’ve devoted a fair amount of ink to the upcoming April 8 town election. The terms of 20 officials on nine elected boards and in three offices will expire July 1, creating an opportunity for the emergence of new voices and talent in our mostly volunteer-run town government.
Last year, 10 elected positions in town were uncontested. Without competing candidates there is little debate, and without debate the town is deprived of fresh visions and solutions. With a majority of this year’s incumbents planning to run for reelection, it’s entirely likely that key positions on the Board of Selectmen, Planning Board, and School Committee will be filled without opposition.
As we’ve outlined in our “Guide to Running for elected office,” getting your name onto the ballot is a relatively straight-forward process, and our Town Clerk tries to keep it simple.
The entire town benefits when candidates step forward to run for office, and we hope understanding of the process will not only increase appreciation for those who do—regardless of their views—but also encourage a new crop of citizens to enter Harvard’s civic arena.
