Framingham Town Election: Races For Selectmen, School Committee, Library, and Planning Board

In 2015, only 7 percent of Framingham’s more than 35,000 registered voters participated in the town’s election.

With races in almost every town-wide office and a ballot question asking voters to create a Charter Commission to study Framingham’s form of government, hopefully voters will go to the polling places on Tuesday, March 29.

Yesterday, Feb. 12 was the deadline for nomination papers for most town-wide offices, except the Charter Commission.

There will be four candidates vying for two 3-year terms on the Framingham Board of Selectmen.

Incumbent Michael Bower, announced in June 2015, he would not seek another term.

Selectmen Chair Charlie Sisitsky is running for re-election .

Also seeking a seat on the Board of Selectmen is Cesar Monzon, Deborah Butler, and former Planning Board member Sue Bernstein.

Bernstein also submitted nomination papers to run for Framingham Planning Board, yesterday.

She is one of three candidates for 2 seats. Incumbents Victor Ortiz and Lewis Colten are both seeking re-election.

Bernstein 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.

Voters will see a race for Framingham School Committee. There are two, 3-year seats available.

Incumbent Heather Connolly is seeking re-election, as is incumbent Eric Silverman, who turned in his papers yesterday afternoon. The third candidate is former School Committee member Rick Finlay, who announced in November his candidacy.

Robert Merusi is running for re-election to the Framingham Housing Authority. 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 will also be on the ballot.

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.

As mentioned above, 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 more than 30 candidates for Commissioner. The deadline to file 100 signatures of registered voters is Feb. 9.

Town Meeting members still 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.