EDITOR’S NOTE: All candidate names have been certified by the Town Clerk’s Office, but they have until May 8 to withdrawal their names.
Five candidates are seeking two available seats on the School Committee in the town’s June 10 municipal election, where education continues to dominate civic discourse. The contest comes as the School Committee faces sustained scrutiny following a period marked by lawsuits, override failures, leadership turnover, a teacher strike and heated debate about a draft flag policy.
The last day to register to vote in the upcoming election is May 30. The municipal election will feature a revised polling plan after the town reversed course on its initial proposal to consolidate all precincts into the Marblehead High School Field House.
Officials originally announced plans to temporarily move all six precincts to the field house fire to an Old Town House elevator that overheats and traps people. But in an April 23 memo, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer indicated the town will now split voting between two locations:
— Precincts 1 and 2 will vote at Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St.
— Precincts 3 through 6 will vote at the Marblehead High School Field House, 2 Humphrey St.
The Select Board is expected to vote on whether to make the change permanent following an ADA compliance review.
School Committee
Sarah Fox of Beach Street and Alison Taylor of West Shore Drive are seeking reelection after serving on the current committee. Challengers include attorney Katherine Schmeckpeper of Chestnut Street, graphic designer Henry Gwazda of Mohawk Road and investor Emily Dunham DeJoy of Riverside Drive. Voters will elect two candidates to three-year terms. The field reflects divergent priorities around fiscal management, district governance, academic focus and political neutrality in school settings.
Select Board
The Select Board race features two candidates for one open seat. Jim Zisson of Mound Road and Yael Magen of West Shore Drive will appear on the ballot. Zisson served on the Town Charter Committee and is known for his advocacy around financial discipline and open government. Magen enters the race with a background in international affairs and public policy. Magen initially announced a run for School Committee, but switched course.
The seat is being vacated by Brett Murray, who is not seeking reelection after serving a total of eight years across nonconsecutive terms.
This election marks the first in a new staggered-term system for the Select Board, replacing the town’s former annual model.
Town clerk
Three candidates are vying for the position of town clerk. Incumbent Robin Michaud of Lee Street, who has served since 2007, is seeking a seventh term. She is challenged by Terri Tauro of Jersey Street, a union leader and Housing Authority vice chair, and Melissa Flanagan of Evans Road, a banking operations specialist.
The race has garnered attention as voters express interest in expanded early voting options, improved digital services and greater transparency in public records. Some residents have also voiced a desire for a more accessible and welcoming experience at the Town Clerk’s Office.
In response to these concerns, Michaud emphasizes her extensive experience and the institutional knowledge she brings to the role, highlighting her commitment to maintaining the integrity and efficiency of the office’s operations.
Cemetery Commission
The Cemetery Commission race includes four candidates running for three different term lengths. The board has been operating under interim appointments since 2024, when commissioners Janet Merrill and Pam Peterson resigned, citing internal dysfunction and persistent conflict with Cemetery Superintendent Catherine Kobialka. Their resignations left the board without a quorum.
Two of the current candidates — Gerald Tucker Jr. of Lafayette Street and David Rodgers — are serving on an interim basis following appointment by the Select Board and Cemetery Commission. Tucker is seeking a three-year term. Rodgers is pursuing a two-year term. Marblehead’s perennial candidate, Rose McCarthy of Hewitt Street, is also running for one of the three-year seats. Rabbi David Meyer of West Shore Drive is seeking the one-year term. Longtime commissioner Richard Coletti, who had served through multiple cycles, did not pull papers.
Board of Health
Two candidates are running for one available three-year term on the Board of Health: Kimberly Crowley of Roosevelt Avenue and Amanda Ritvo of Ruby Avenue. The seat was previously held by Helaine Hazlett, who chose not to run for another term after nearly 30 years of service. Hazlett was instrumental in public communications during the COVID-19 pandemic and worked on departmental restructuring and budgeting.
Housing Authority
The Marblehead Housing Authority has one uncontested five-year seat. Terri Tauro of Jersey Street is the sole candidate.
Library Trustees
Marjorie Norman of Maverick Street and Kathleen Waslov of Haley Road are unopposed in their reelection bids for three-year terms.
Light Commission
The Municipal Light Commission race features two contested three-year terms and one uncontested one-year term. Michael Hull of Bayview Road and Jean-Jacques Yarmoff of Lookout Court are running for the full terms. Matthew Harrington of Arthur Avenue is unopposed for the unexpired one-year seat.
That vacancy was created by the March 28 resignation of Lisa Wolf, who had been reelected in 2023. Wolf stepped down to apply for a newly created role within the Light Department focused on energy efficiency. Her decision followed consultation with the State Ethics Commission and department leadership. While ethics guidelines permitted her to remain on the commission during the hiring process, she opted to step away to avoid any appearance of conflict.
Planning Board
The Planning Board race features incumbent Edward Nilsson of Naugus Avenue and Timothy Swigor of Front Street, both seeking a three-year term.
Recreation and Parks Commission
The Recreation and Parks Commission has five candidates for five one-year terms: Incumbents Shelly Bedrossian of Jersey Street, Karin Ernst of Lafayette Street and Rossana Ferrante of Stony Brook Road; and Larry Simpson of Rowland Street and Christopher Kennedy of Stony Brook Road. Incumbents Linda Rice Collins and Matt Martin chose not to run again.
The Water and Sewer Commission has three uncontested seats. James Maher of Rockaway Avenue and Thomas Murray of Jersey Street are seeking three-year terms. Gregory Burt of Russell Street is seeking a one-year unexpired term after being appointed last year to replace the late Thomas Carroll.
The board also experienced the passing of longtime commissioner Carlton Siegel in 2024.
Town Meeting Moderator John “Jack” Attridge of Beach Street is running unopposed for a one-year term. Michael Cannuscio of Ruby Avenue is also unopposed for the Board of Assessors, with incumbent William Willis having not pulled nomination papers.
