There will be races for district 1 town councilor and at-large town councilor in the annual town election.
Eric. A. DudaPALMER – Tuesday was the deadline for candidates to turn in nomination papers to the town clerk’s office, and the results were surprising.
Town Council President Eric A. Duda, who took out papers for an at-large position and district 4, is not running again.
Duda, who was elected in 2009, received the most votes that year out of the at-large candidates. A teacher at Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School, Duda said it was a difficult decision, but he has to put his family first.
Duda and his wife Jennifer are expecting a baby girl in July.
“Due to this and other personal, family and professional obligations, I will not have the same amount of time that I have had in the past for local politics . . . I have enjoyed the experience and I am very proud of many accomplishments that were made in the past few years on the council and Charter Commission. I hope that more people decide to get involved and run for office in the future,” Duda said in a statement.
There will be races on the annual election ballot for district 1 town councilor and at-large town councilor.
Competing for a three-year district 1 town councilor position are incumbent Philip J. Hebert and former Bondsville fire and water commissioner Carl F. Bryant. District 2 Councilor Barbara A. Barry is running unopposed for a one-year term.
Palmer Redevelopment Authority Chairman Blake E. Lamothe is running unopposed for district 3 councilor for a one-year position; Raymond J. Remillard, who represents district 3 now, did not return his papers. District 4 Councilor Donald Blais Jr. is running unopposed for a two-year term.
Four people are competing for three at-large councilor positions. Incumbents Paul E. Burns and Karl S. Williams will face off against former School Committee chairwoman Mary A. Salzmann and newcomer Malinda C. Lastowski of Bondsville. The at-large councilor who receives the most votes will serve three years; the next highest, two years; the fewest, one year.
Because of a charter change approved by voters in November, all elected positions are up for reelection. The charter change moved the annual election from November to June, and reduced the number of town councilors from nine to seven. Other councilors not running again are Michael R. Magiera and William S. Heilman.
There are no races for Planning Board or School Committee. Planning Board incumbents Michael S. Marciniec, Norman A. Czech and Thomas S. Skowrya will be on the June 14 ballot, along with administrative assistant Andrew M. Golas and Kathleen M. Burns. Diane France and James J. Haley are not running. Haley said he did not agree with having to run again after being elected to a four-year term in 2009.
The makeup of the School Committee will not change, as Chairwoman Maureen R. Gallagher, Vice-Chairman James L. St. Amand, and members David M. Lynch, Gary A. Blanchette and Robert R. Janasiewicz all will be on the ballot. The ballot will also feature non-binding questions asking residents if they favor a town manager-town council form of government or selectmen and town meetings.