BCAT News

It’s still early in the process but the Burlington Town Election is already looking like it will have some contested seats.

Nomination papers became available on January 4 and candidates started pulling papers the first week.

In a list of candidates who have taken papers from Town Clerk’s Amy Warfield’s office that was put out mid-day on Friday, we can see who has thrown their hat into the ring already. Warfield herself, who is up for reelection, has taken out papers, as has Town Moderator Bill Beyer.

In the Board of Selectmen race there are two seats up this year. Thus far current member Joe Morandi has pulled papers, as has current Town Meeting member Shari Ellis. Selectman Mike Runyan, who is also up, said during a recent meeting that he plans to run again this year.

Incumbent Martha Simon is so far the only person to pull seats for the one open position on the School Committee. Incumbent Paul Sheehan has pulled papers to be an Assessor. Finally, newcomer Michael Kelly is so far the only person to have pulled papers for the one open seat on the Shawsheen Tech School Committee.

Some Town Meeting members have already pulled papers but no races are yet contested.

The seats that will be on the ballot this year include:

Town Wide offices:

-Town Clerk (5 yr) (1 seat)

– Moderator (1 yr) (1 seat)

– Selectmen (3 yr) (2 seats)

– Assessor (3 yr) (1 seat)

– School Committee (3 yr) (2 seats)

– Library Trustees (3 yr) (2 seats)

– Planning Board (5 yr) (1 seat)

– Board of Health (3 yr) (2 seat)

– Housing Authority (5 yr) (1 seat)

– Housing Authority (1 yr) (1 seat)

– Recreation Commission (3 yr) (1 seat)

– Recreation Commission (1 yr) (1 seat)

– Shawsheen Tech. H.S. (3 yr) (1 seat)

Town Meeting Seats:

– Precinct 1 TMM (3 yr) (6 seats)

– Precinct 1 TMM (2 yr) (1 seat)

– Precinct 1 TMM (1 yr) (1 seat)

– Precinct 2 TMM (3 yr) (6 seats)

– Precinct 3 TMM (3 yr) (6 seats)

– Precinct 4 TMM (3 yr) (6 seats)

– Precinct 4 TMM (1 yr) (1 seat)

– Precinct 5 TMM (3 yr) (6 seats)

– Precinct 5 TMM (1 yr) (1 seat)

– Precinct 6 TMM (3 yr) (6 seats)

– Precinct 6 TMM (2 yr) (2 seats)

– Precinct 7 TMM (3 yr) (6 seats)

– Precinct 7 TMM (1 yr) (1 seat)

This year, due to COVID, there will be a different process for those interested in running for Town and Representative Town Meeting Seats.

Here are the requirements for running for office;

1) any Registered Voter living in Burlington who would like to participate in Local Government can take out papers to fill one of the seats;

2) You must contact the Town Clerk’s office to register as an official candidate for the public office you want to run for;

3)  You will need to get signatures from Burlington registered voters (50) who sign your candidate papers;

4) Return your papers by mail or the drop box to the Town Clerk’s office for certifications, the deadline for returning your papers is February 19.  Then you are ready to run for Office in the Town election on April 10. All elections are held at the Burlington High School Gym, 123 Cambridge Street.

For further information or any questions you may have, call the Town Clerk’s office at 781-270-1660 or check out on the town website at Burlington.org.