“It’s not unusual,” said Town Clerk Maureen T. Winseck. “It’s hard to get candidates to run for these seats.”
GREENFIELD – Although there are 11 seats up for grabs in Tuesday's city election, five have no official candidates, including the one-year Precinct 1 town councilor job. There are two contests on the ballot, for an at-large member of the city council and the School Committee.
The positions of trustee of A.K. Warner Trust, trustee of Jennie L. Bascom, a veteran and non-veteran trustee of Soldier Memorial, and the council slot will be filled by write-in winners, if there are any. If no one wins in a write-in campaign, the boards will make appointments.
Last year, no one took out nominations papers for a three-year term as Precinct 9 town councilor or any of the trustee positions.
“It’s not unusual,” said Town Clerk Maureen T. Winseck. “It’s hard to get candidates to run for these seats.”
When Precinct 1 Councilor Peter Wood resigned last year, the council unanimously appointed Paul R. Bitters to fill the vacancy until June 30.
Steven M. Ronhave is running unopposed for Town Council in Precinct 4, Vice President David Singer is seeking re-election to his Precinct 5 seat, and Hillary H. Hoffman is vying for the Precinct 6 position.
The town councilor at-large seat has two candidates, Cameron R. Ward and Mark P. Wisnewski, who won in the April 19 preliminary election that almost did not come to pass. The incumbent, Daniel J. Guin, did not seek re-election.
On March 7, the Town Council asked the state to allow the city to cancel the preliminary election. A citizen referendum in protest held up the process, and the deadline for purchasing the ballots arrived without a decision. The election was held and Ward and Wisnewski bested Karen T. Renaud for spots on the general election ballot.
The School Committee has the only other contested race. There are three candidates for two three-year positions: Daryl B. Essensa, current Secretary Maryelen Calderwood and Vice Chairman Keith C. McCormic.