Candidates For Framingham Election Have Deadline Today

Today is a big day in politics in Framingham.

Those running for town-wide office, who want to be on the March 29 ballot, must submit nominations papers by 5 p.m. today, Jan. 12.

Voters already know they will see a ballot question during the Town of Framingham’s annual election. Voters will be asked if they want to create a Charter Commission to study Framingham’s form of government. If the voters say yes to a Charter Commission, they will also elect 9 Charter Commissioners on March 29. Already, there are 30 candidates for Commissioner. The deadline to file 100 signatures of registered voters is Feb. 9.

Voters will see a race for Selectmen in March.

Incumbent Michael Bower has chosen not to seek re-election.

Selectmen Chair Charlie Sisitsky is running for re-election and has already returned his nomination papers.

Cesar Monzon announced in November he was running for one of the two 3-year terms for Selectmen, and has returned his papers.

Yesterday, Town Meeting member Deborah Butler turned in her nomination papers for Selectmen.

Town Meeting member Jim Pillsbury and former Planning Board member Sue Bernstein have both pulled papers for Selectmen but have yet to return them.

Voters will likely see a race for School Committee.

Incumbent Heather Connolly is seeking re-election. And former School Committee member Rick Finlay announced in November he wants to return to the Committee.

There are two 3-year seats on the Committee.

Incumbent Eric Silverman took out nomination papers on January 5, but has yet to return them; but he announced on a private Facebook page that he intends to run for re-election.

Editor’s note: Framingham Patch published its election policy in December 2015. Each candidate is allowed to publish an announcement. Click here for more details.

Both Victor Ortiz and Lewis Colten are up for re-election for the Framingham Planning Board. Both have taken out nomination papers. So has former Planning Board member Sue Bernstein. She lost her Planning Board seat in 2013.

Bernstein on Friday took out nominations papers for Selectmen, Planning Board, and Charter Commissioner. She legally can run for both Selectman and Planning Board, but if elected to both positions on March 29, she would have to choose one and decline the other.

Robert Merusi is up for re-election to the Framingham Housing Authority. He returned his nomination papers on Monday. He is the only candidate.

Framingham will elect four Library Trustees, including at least one new Trustee as incumbent Rep. Chris Walsh has chosen not to run for re-election.

Running for re-election for Library Trustee are include Ruth S. Winett, chair Elizabeth F. Fideler and Robert Dodd. Candidates Steven Malchman and William Wray also have pulled nomination papers.

Up for re-election to the South Middlesex Regional Vocational School Committee, which oversees Keefe Technical High School, is John Kahn, Larry Cooper and Linda Forbes. All have taken out nomination papers.

Town Meeting members have time before they decide if they want to seek re-election. Incumbent Town Meeting members need to submit their intent to run for re-election to the Framingham Town Clerk by Feb. 2.

New Town Meeting members wishing to be on the ballot must submit 25 signatures from registered voters in their precinct to the Town Clerk’s office by Feb. 9.

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Framingham Patch will publish a report, based on who submitted nomination papers to the Town Clerk by today’s 5 p.m. deadline, late tonight.