It was standing room only in the Town Hall Meeting room during Town Caucus, March 2. From left: Beth Williams, Debbie Ricci, Mary Ann Cheveralls, Ellen Leicher, SusanMary Redinger, Kirsten Wright, Allen Fraser, and Bob Eubank. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
Debbie Ricci records nominations as read by Paul Green at the Town Caucus, Mar. 2.
A gathering of civic-minded residents crowded into Town Hall this past weekend for Annual Town Caucus and nominated 18 candidates to fill 17 positions among Harvard’s elected boards, committees, and offices that will become open this spring. Only two are likely to be contested, although a misstatement in the listing of positions has inadvertently created competition for a third.
Caucus attendees nominated four candidates to fill the positions currently held by Selectmen Tim Clark and Bill Johnson, whose three-year terms will expire this spring. The nominees include the two incumbents, plus Stu Sklar and Don Graham. Leo Blair was also nominated, but received the least number of votes in a runoff to select the maximum two candidates for each position permitted by state law for a town caucus. The largest number of votes, 33, went to Graham. Sklar received 26, and Clark and Johnson received 21 apiece.
It was standing room only for the more than 50 registered voters who attended the Saturday gathering. After electing Paul Green of Old Littleton Road as presiding officer and Debbie Ricci of East Bare Hill Road as secretary, they filled all but two of the slots in less than 20 minutes.
When it came time to nominate candidates for the one open three-year position on the Planning Board, however, presiding officer Paul Green read from the list that there were two such openings, and caucus attendees nominated Kara Minar and incumbent Rich Marcello to fill each of them. Rather than running unopposed, the two candidates will now compete for the one seat, Town Clerk Janet Vellante confirmed this week. Neither nominee was present; to be on the ballot they must appear at Town Hall and sign nomination papers by March 12.
Here is the list of caucus nominees:
- Town Moderator (1 year): Robert Eubank
- Selectmen (2 for 3 years): Tim Clark, Don Graham, Bill Johnson, Stu Sklar
- Cemetery Commission (3 years): Bruce Dolimount
- Community Preservation Committee (3 years): Didi Chadran
- Community Preservation Committee (1 year): Elizabeth Williams
- Board of Health (3 years): Lorin Johnson
- Library Trustees (2 for 3 years): Marty Green, Joe Newpol
- Parks and Recreation Commission (3 years): None
- Parks and Recreation Commission (2 years): None
- Planning Board (3 years): Rich Marcello, Kara Minar
- Planning Board (1 year): Jim Breslauer
- School Committee (3 years): Kirsten Wright
- Tree Warden (1 year): Christian Bilodeau
- Warner Free Lecture Trustees (2 for 3 years): Pat Jennings, Sheila Simollardes
Candidates who wish to run for a vacant seat but were not nominated can still get on the ballot by gathering 41 signatures on a nominating petition and bringing it to Town Hall by March 12. Those who were nominated must sign their papers by that same date or forfeit their candidacy.
The names of all nominated candidates for the remaining open positions will appear on the ballot at the April 30 town election.
