Here's who's looking to run in Dartmouth's upcoming Annual Town Election
DARTMOUTH — Dartmouth residents who want in on the 2024 Annual Town Election ballot had to have their candidacy papers returned to Town Hall for filing by the end of business on Tuesday despite the snowy weather. With the names now in, here's how the ballot is shaping up ahead of the election on April 2.
For Select Board, a contest has begun to take form between candidates John V. Sousa and Christopher J. O’Neil to replace Selectman Frank S. Gracie, III, who is not running for reelection.
Meanwhile, it appears Selectman David Tatelbaum may be running unopposed to retain his seat, after Diane Gilbert called in to verbally state her intent to withdraw from the race on Wednesday, according to Dartmouth Communications Coordinator Magnolia McComish.
McComish said Gilbert will have to submit her intent to withdraw in writing by Feb. 29 to have it officially recognized. Otherwise, Gilbert's name will still be appearing on the ballot, McComish said.
Three-way School Committee contest
The School Committee will be another likely contest on the ballot — saving for the possibility of withdrawals — with candidates Mackenzie Boucher, Kyle Ross and Mary Beckwith seeking to fill the seat of current committee member Dr. Shannon Jenkins, who had stated publicly over past months that she did not intend to run for reelection.
Meanwhile in Fairhaven: Here's who signed up to run in Fairhaven's upcoming town election.
Assessors, library trustee contests take form
In other contests: on the Board of Assessors, candidate Albert Lay is challenging incumbent for reelection Curtis Nunes; and for the Board of Library Trustees, candidates Mary Anne Cole, Maya Anne Matthy Wolfson and current Trustee Linda M. Garibaldi are vying for one three-year term.
Garibaldi had been appointed her position relative to a resignation, but rather than run as an incumbent to retain her seat for a one-year term, she opted to run for the three-year opening.
Candidate Lynne M. Cotter is running unopposed to fill the one-year term.
Running unopposed
Aside from Cotter, and Tatelbaum in the Select Board race, candidates running unopposed are: Elaine Lancaster (Housing Authority incumbent), Margaret A. Sweet (Planning Board incumbent), Sarah Haskell Arruda (Town Clerk), and Richard A. Romero looks to replace Board of Health member Dr. Christian Pope, who is not running for reelection.
According to McComish, no candidacies had been officially certified as of Wednesday. McComish said that won't likely happen until the end of February.
Important dates to remember
Thursday, Feb. 29, 5 p.m. — Last day and Hour to object or withdraw nomination papers from the Town Clerk's office.
Tuesday, March 26 — Last day to post Warrant/Last day to request Mail-In Ballot.
See more Dartmouth news: Dartmouth tweaks the process for beach stickers this year. Here's what you need to know.
Tuesday, April 2 — Annual Town Election; polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For more Dartmouth Annual Town Election information, visit www.town.dartmouth.ma.us.
*Editor's Note: This story has been updated to clarify which Library Board of Trustee candidates are running for which terms; and also to clarify the unofficial status of Diane Gilbert's intent to withdraw from the Select Board race.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Dartmouth ballot takes shape after deadline passed
