Marblehead’s town election on June 20 will feature seven contests, including for School Committee and Select Board.
There is a five-way race for two open seats on the School Committee. Candidates include incumbent Sarah Gold, Paul Baker of Overlook Road, former Glover School principal Brian Ota of Merritt Street, Karen Tal-Makhluf of Trager Road and former School Committee member Jennifer Schaeffner of Casino Road.
Six candidates for the Select Board will battle over five seats. All five incumbents are running: Jim Nye, Moses Grader, Alexa Singer, Jackie Belf-Becker and Erin Noonan. Former Select Board member Bret Murray of Abbot Street is hoping to unseat one of them.
A Planning Board contest will not be on the June ballot after all. James Full of Cheever Avenue did not return papers before the deadline, leaving incumbent Robert Schaeffner and Marc J. Leibman of Orchard Circle uncontested for two, five-year terms.
Others races to watch:
Board of Health: Incumbent Todd Belfbecker’s three-year term expiresthis year. He tells the Current that he has decided to give up his seat after 15 years on the board, which he called “very bittersweet.” However, three non-incumbents have returned papers: Thomas McMahon of Gregory Street, Thomas Massaro of Lafayette Street and former Board of Health member David Becker (Todd’s father) of Nonantum Road. McMahon ran unsuccessfully against Helaine Hazlett in 2022.
Municipal Light Commission: The Marblehead Municipal Light Commission has a three-year term and a one-year unexpired term that voters will need to fill. Incumbent Lisa Wolf will face former light commissioner Walter Homan of Haley Road for the three-year term. Homan lost to Light Commissioners Jean-Jacques Yarmoff and Michael Hull in a close race among the three candidates in 2022.
As for the one-year, unexpired term, interim Light Commissioner Adam Smith and Nathanael Burke of Mitchell Road will compete for it. The Select Board and Light Commission selected Smith to fill the vacancy created when Karl A. Johnson resigned his seat following the June election, citing health reasons.
Library Board of Trustees: Two Abbot Public Library Board of Trustees seats with three-year terms are open in the election. Incumbent Gary Amberik returned papers, as did newcomer Katherine Barker of Locust Street and Marblehead’s perennial candidate Rose Ann Wheeler McCarthy of Hewitt Street.
Rec and Parks Commission: Five, one-year terms are open on the Recreation and Parks Commission. Four of the five members of the Recreation and Parks Commission — Linda Rice Collins, Matthew Martin, Karen Ernst and Rossana Ferrante — are running for re-election. Newcomers Shelly Bedrossian of Jersey Street and Larry Simpson of Rowland Street returned papers. Recreation and Parks Commissioner Derek Norcross is not seeking re-election.
“Though I took out papers for re-election, I will not be turning them in,” said Norcross, who served 18 years on the commission. “I’m hopeful that by letting people know, maybe some other — hopefully younger — person will be interested in running and joining the commission.”
At the Housing Authority Board of Trustees, Thersa Taura is running for the remaining two years on an unexpired term. The Select Board and the Housing Authority unanimously appointed Tauro to fill the vacancy created after former commissioner Joan Cutler resigned in September.
Other incumbents running for reelection include Moderator Jack Attridge, Assessor John Kelley, Cemetery Commissioner Pam Peterson and Water and Sewer Commissioners Thomas Carroll and Barton Hyte.
Town Clerk Robin Michaud reminds prospective candidates of the Office of Campaign and Political Finance’s filing requirements. All candidates must file three campaign finance reports, regardless of the election’s outcome or the amount of personal money spent.
Critical dates to file campaign finance reports are as follows:
— Eight days before the election or June 8.
— Thirty days after the election or July 30.
— End-of-year report, Jan. 20, 2024.
Friday, June 2
