Just One Candidate So Far for Two Hamilton Selectmen Seats

There's just one candidate for two open seats on the five-member Hamilton Board of Selectmen with less than a week left before the deadline to run, according to information from Hamilton Town Clerk Jane Wetson.

Nomination papers in Hamilton need to be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 21 with 40 certifiable signatures of Hamilton registered voters. In Wenham, the deadline is also Feb. 21 but is 5 p.m. for 20 certifiable signatures of Wenham registered voters.

There are two open three year term on the board - the two new seats added three years ago after voters backed an overhaul of the town government that also involved replacing the town administrator position with a town manager.

Marc Johnson has pulled papers and said last week he is seeking reelection. But there is another three year seat and no candidates have pulled papers.

Selectmen Jeff Stinson, whose term is also up this year, announced last month he is not seeking reelection.

None of the other open town positions will be contested, as of yet, but most have seen candidates step forward.

Incumbents Moderator Bruce Ramsey, Assessor Gelean "Bud" Campbell and Library Trustee Madely Liberti have all returned papers with enough signatures and have been certified.

There are two open five-year seats on the Planning Board and the incumbents that hold those seats - Rick Mitchell and Brian Stein - have taken papers but have not returned them. There's also an unexpired three year term open on the Planning Board held by Ron Rossetti Jr. He has not pulled papers.

In Wenham, incumbent Molly Martins - who serves as the board's chairman - has pulled papers. Newcomer Jack Wilhelm has also pulled papers and his signatures have been certified.

Incumbents Moderator Paul Weaver and Town Clerk Trudy Reid have both returned papers with their signatures certified.

There are open seats on the Board of Health, Cemetery Commission and Wenham Housing Authority that all do not have any candidates that have pulled papers, as of the end of last week.

There's a three-year term on the Board of Health with no candidates, one year of an unexpired term on the Cemetery Commission without any candidates and five-year term on the Wenham Housing Authority with a candidate.

Incumbent candidates for several other seats have pulled papers but have not yet returned them, including Tom Tanous for a three year term on the board of Assessors, David Geikie for a five-year term on the Planning Board; Rick Cave for a three-year term as a Cemetery Commissioner.

Also in Wenham, Win Mulry has pulled papers but has not yet returned them for a one year term as Tree Warden; incumbent Ernest Ashley has pulled papers but not yet returned them for a three year term as a Water Commissioner and incumbent Doris Gallant has pulled papers but not yet returned them for a three year term for a Wenham position as a Hamilton-Wenham Regional Library Trustee.

A candidates night has been scheduled by the League of Women Voters of Hamilton-Wenham for March 6 at 7 p.m. at Buker Elementary School.