Six vie for two seats in the upcoming Mattapoisett election

MATTAPOISETT — The School Committee races are contentious this year with two seats open for the Mattapoisett School Committee, and six candidates running. The Old Rochester Regional School Committee has one seat available — two are running. 

Time is ticking towards the election held Tuesday, May 20 — less than two months remain before residents can cast their votes. 

Candidates can take out nomination papers until Friday, March 28, and have until Thursday, April 1 to return them. All information provided is valid as of Monday, March 24.

There is one spot open on the Select Board. Chair Jordan Collyer has taken out papers for reelection, but has not returned them. He runs unopposed.

The Mattapoisett School Committee has the most candidates running this election season with only two open seats available. Incumbents Cristin Cowles and Amanda Hastings have both taken out papers for reelection— only Cowles has returned them. 

Newcomers include Nicole Demakis, Patrick Leclair, Charles Motta and newest addition to the list Mackenzie Emmons. Emmons took out papers Friday, March 20 — there have been no papers returned from the newcomers. 

One seat is available on the Old Rochester Regional School Committee — Rosemary Bowman is up for reelection, but is not running. Both newcomers running — Nina Datshovsky-Ennis and Betsy Stewart — have returned their papers. 

With Donald J. Flemming not seeking reelection, the Trustee of the Public Library has two seats available and two people running. Incumbent Michael Rosa and newcomer Jeanne Hopkins are vying for the two seats. Hopkins has returned her papers.

Incumbent Lizanne Campbell is running for reelection for the Moderator, and runs unopposed without returning papers yet. 

The Water/Sewer Commission has two open seats — newcomer Mason Maithieu has taken out papers. Incumbent Dana Lebaron Barrows has yet to take out nomination papers. 

The Board of Health, Planning Board, Herring Inspector and Tree Warden all have one seat open with incumbents Michele C. Burner, Nathan C. Ketchel, Johnathan William Wilbur and Roland J. Cote running respectively. All candidates are running unopposed and none have returned papers.

Two seats are open for Constable, newcomer Michael D. King is the only candidate running — he has not returned papers. The other seat remains vacant. 

The Community Preservation Committee has two seats open and two incumbents running unopposed. Michelle Hughes and Charles William McCullough have not returned their papers yet. 

If all candidates return their papers and continue on in the process, the final day to withdraw or object is Thursday, April 17 at  5 p.m.

The last Day to register to vote for the annual Town Election is Friday, May 9. The Town Clerk’s Office will be open from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. The Town Election will be held at the Old Hammondtown School 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 20.