WILLIAMSTOWN -- With three days to go before nomination papers are due for the April town election, only two candidates have taken out nomination papers for the two three-year terms on the Board of Selectmen, Town Clerk Mary Kennedy said.
Selectman Ronald Turbin said after a period of indecision, he decided to run for a third term. Turbin, who said he spent much of his career as an assistant attorney general in New York, has previously served as chairman of the board.
"I think the town benefits by having an attorney on the board," he said.
Turbin said he believes he can play a role in balancing the creation of affordable housing in town and preserving open space, two issues he said are important to him. He added he didn’t believe the two issues needed to compete with one another.
The other seat on the board is being pursued by newcomer Jane Patton. A Williamstown resident since 2008, Patton said she loved the idea of living in a small college town. Running for the board was another way she could put roots down, she said.
"I just felt like it was an opportunity to become even more embedded in the community, to give back to it and to participate," she said.
Patton, who works as a consultant, said she believes the board would benefit from her background in business.
The race for town moderator is uncontested, Kennedy said, with only Adam Filson taking out nomination papers.
The race of Elementary
Margaret McComish, who’s currently serving a three-year term on the School Committee, said she will not seek re-election.
For a seat on the Northern Berkshire Regional School Committee, papers were taken out by incumbent James Gazzaniga.
Four open seats are available on the board of library trustees, Kennedy said. Nomination papers were taken out by incumbents Mark Maniak, Rebecca Ohm and Peter Mehlin, along with newcomer Katherine Myers.
Nomination papers were taken out for a five-year term on the Planning Board by Carol Stein Payne, a seat currently held by Richard Demayo, who said he won’t be running.
Kennedy said papers must be returned by Thursday Candidates must obtain 28 signatures of locally registered voters to be included on the election ballot.
Nomination papers can be obtained between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, from the town clerk’s office in the Town Hall, at 31 North Street.
To reach Edward Damon, email
edamon@thetranscript.com.
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