WILMINGTON, MA — Kevin MacDonald, a fierce critic of town leadership, is running for the open 1-year Selectmen seat recently vacated by Ed Loud. And, in what’s become a trend, he has waited until the very last moment to enter the race.
In 2017, MacDonald pulled nomination papers approximately 24 hours before the filing to deadline to run for Selectman. Last year, MacDonald pulled nomination papers approximately 48 hours before the filing deadline to run for Town Moderator. This year, MacDonald pulled papers on Thursday, March 7 and returned them to the Town Clerk’s Office on Friday, March 8, prior to the 5pm deadline. The Town Clerk’s Office has yet to officially announce that MacDonald’s nomination papers — which require 50 signatures from registered Wilmington voters — have been certified. That notification is expected to come on Monday.
The other looming question to be officially answered by the Town Clerk’s Office on Monday is whether or not Rob Fasulo, who was a close runner-up in last year’s Selectmen’s race, returned his nomination papers prior to the deadline. Fasulo pulled papers back on February 5, but – as of six hours before the filing deadline – had not returned them. An email to Fasulo from Wilmington Apple went unanswered.
What we DO know is the Wilmington School Committee race (Jo Newhouse, Jesse Fennelly and Jason Samaha) and Shawsheen Tech School Committee (Robert Peterson Sr.) will be uncontested, barring any sort of write-in campaigns.
We also know that incumbents Greg Bendel and Kevin Caira are on the ballot for the two 3-year Selectmen seats, as are challengers Mark Maselli, Daniel Murphy and Suzanne Sullivan. Daryn Marsh and Jomarie O’Mahony are on the ballot for the open 1-year Selectman seat.
According to Assitstant Town Clerk Linda Golden, here are how the races stand as of Friday, March 8 at 11am, just hours before the filing deadline:
Wilmington Board of Selectmen — 2 seats — 3-year terms
- Greg Bendel (incumbent) — pulled papers on 1/3 — returned on 1/11 — certified on 1/14
- Kevin Caira (incumbent) — pulled papers on 1/4 — returned on 2/8 — certified on 2/11
- Robert Fasulo, Jr. (challenger) — pulled papers on 2/5 — waiting for Town Clerk announcement on Monday
- Mark Maselli (challenger) — pulled papers on 2/11 — returned on 3/6 — certified on 3/6
- Daniel Murphy (challenger) — pulled papers on 1/18 — returned on 1/28 — certified on 1/30
- Suzanne Sullivan (challenger) — pulled papers on 2/5 — returned on 3/7 — certified on 3/8
Wilmington Board of Selectmen — 1 seat — 1-year term
- Kevin MacDonald — pulled papers on 3/7 — waiting for Town Clerk announcement on Monday
- Daryn Marsh — pulled papers on 2/5 — returned on 2/19 — certified on 2/21
- Jomarie O’Mahony — pulled papers on 1/30 — returned on 2/19 — certified on 2/19
Wilmington School Committee — 3 seats — 3-year terms
- Jesse Fennelly (challenger) — pulled papers on 1/7 — returned on 2/20 — certified on 2/21
- Jo Newhouse (incumbent) — pulled papers on 1/4 — returned on 3/1 — certified on 3/1
- Jason Samaha (challenger) — pulled papers on 2/28 — returned on 3/4 — certified on 3/6
Incumbents Julie Broussard and Tom Talbot have announced they aren’t seeking re-election.
Shawsheen Tech School Committee — 1 seat — 3-year term
- Robert Peterson Sr. (incumbent) — pulled papers on 1/3 — returned on 2/1 — certified on 2/2
The Annual Town Election will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2019. Polls will be open from 8am to 8pm.
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