Nomination papers for all election contests are available until Aug. 5.
WESTFIELD – Nomination papers are now available for a special election to a two-year seat on the School Committee, in the Nov. 8 city’s general election.
The special election will fill the remaining two years of a four-year term held by Laura K. Maloney, who has announced she is resigning effective July 29.
A decision handed down by the city’s Law Department earlier this week prompted City Clerk Karen M. Fanion to provide nomination papers now for Maloney’s seat.
Currently there are four candidates circulating nomination papers for three four-year terms on the School Committee in the general election.
Once Maloney’s resignation becomes official, Mayor Daniel M. Knapik is expected to call a joint meeting of the School Committee and City Council to appoint someone to fill the vacant seat until January’s inaugural of elected officials.
Fanion said papers for the two-year seat are available in her office and must be returned, with 60 signatures of registered voters, by Aug. 9. Those papers, like all nomination papers for the general election, are available until Aug. 5.
Maloney submitted her letter of resignation last week as she prepared to join her husband Barry M. Maloney, who has been appointed president at Worcester State University.
Maloney was first elected in a special election, held in conjunction with the city’s 2007 general election. She was elected to fill the remaining two years of a four-year term of the late Sharon A. Merlo-Gosselin.
Gosselin’s son Jeffrey L. Gosselin was appointed, for four months, to succeed his mother by a joint convention of the School Committee and City Council in September, 2007. Maloney defeated Gosselin in the 2007 city election.
Maloney then won a four-year term for the seat, defeating Gosselin, in the 2009 municipal election.
Gosselin is currently seeking a four-year term on the School Committee in the fall elections.
Maloney’s current term does not expire until 2013.
School Committee veteran members Mary Ann Cleland and Mary Beth Ogulewicz Sacco have already announced they are not candidates for re-election in the scheduled Nov. 8 election. They along with Kevin J. Sullivan, who has not yet announced his intentions, are up for new four-year terms on the school board.
In addition to Gosselin, other potential candidates circulating nomination papers for the School Committee Ramon Diaz Jr. of 242 West Rd.; Michelle P. Lesieur, 101 Hubbard St.; and Melissa Alvarado of 66 East Glen Dr.