Politics & Government
Winchester Looking for Town Meeting Members
Interested residents can still run as write-in candidates.
In one week Winchester residents will head to the polls for the annual town elections.
However, while the ballot may be longer than usual, contested races are few and far between.
The Board of Selectmen has two open seats, but both candidates are running unopposed – Forrest Fontana (the current Selectman chair) and (who will be taking over for the ). And for the School Committee, chairman Chris Linskey is running unopposed, while will be taking over for , who decided not to run for reelection.
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The only contested race is for the Board of Health, where Michael Fiorenza, Lindsay Letteri and Bridget Stump are vying for one vacancy.
According to Town Clerk Mary Ellen Lannon, the economy could be one reason for the lack of interest in the local elections.
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“There are many uncontested races at the local level,” Lannon said. “There’s as many as I can remember. I think it’s because of the economy. People are bunkering down and trying to find work. The percent of people volunteering is down.”
Winchester has also struggled finding enough citizens for Town Meeting.
Due to the Federal Census, the Town of Winchester is mandated to place all affected precincts on the ballot for the position of Representative Town Meeting member. Winchester has eight precincts, seven were affected by the federal census track changes.
Precinct 3 is the only precinct that has competition for the Town Meeting Member seats. The remainder of the precincts affected by the redistricting are under endorsed and not enough people pulled papers to run for these positions, according to Lannon.
Precincts 1, 2 and 8 have three vacancies; Precinct 4 has two openings; Precincts 5 and 7 have one opening; and Precinct 6 has six seats not being contested.
Lannon said that Massachusetts Law allows for write-in candidates. But it takes a minimum of five votes to receive the position as a write in. There is no requirement for a resident to register their write-in candidacy. However, Lannon said that the Town Clerk’s Office would appreciate a notification of interest.
Residents can call 781-721-7130 or email townclerk@winchester.us to inform the Town Clerk of their interest in running.
If residents are interested in being a write-in candidate, Lannon suggested emailing neighbors and friends prior to the election, which would help in receiving more than one or two votes.
Additionally, residents who vote for write-in candidates must live in the candidate’s precinct. Any votes below five will be recorded as a blank vote.
All Town Meeting Member vacancies still vacant after the vote is certified by the Town Clerk will be filled by a vote of caucus at the Spring Town Meeting in April 2012.
Polls open at 8 a.m. next Tuesday, March 27.
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