Political newcomers looking to run in Braintree

Among the potential school committee candidates this fall are four political newcomers.

By RICK COLLINS
The Patriot Ledger

BRAINTREE - The list of political newcomers seeking elective office in Braintree’s next government continues to grow.

Melissa Ann Berman of Shepard Road, Shannon L. Hume of Beech Street, David M. Ringius Jr. of Wyman Road and Anthony J. Holmes of Arnold Street have taken out nomination papers for spots on the school committee. None holds a town post now.

School committee members David D. Cunningham of Brewster Avenue and Sean E. Powers of Pond Street have also taken out papers.

School committee members Margaret Dunlea-O’Reilly and Maureen Clark have are not running for re-election.

Under the new town charter, the number of seats on the school committee will shrink from seven to six. All seats are up for grabs in the primary election Nov. 6.

The town will abolish its town meeting form of government in January and switch to one led by a mayor. The mayor will hold the seventh seat on the school committee.

The four candidates for mayor are Brian Muello, Joseph Powers, Joseph Sullivan and Paul Walsh. A primary election is scheduled for Sept. 25.

As part of the switch in government, only the school committee, housing authority, board of library trustees, and municipal light board will remain independently elected panels.

So far, all three municipal light board members - Thomas J. Reynolds Jr. of Burroughs Road, Anthony L. Agnitti of Highland Avenue and James P. Regan of Hobart Avenue - have taken out papers for re-election.

Housing authority members Rosemary M. Lauria of Sycamore Road and Marta Googins of Roosevelt Street have taken out papers for that panel.

And only incumbents so far are running for seats on the Thayer Public Library board of trustees: Harold J. Randolph of Liberty Street, Jeffrey J. Kunz of Hollingsworth Avenue, Patricia A. Pilgrim of Washington Street, Edith H. Weinberg of Windemere Circle and John M. Pelose of Huntley Road.

John H. Gauthier Jr. of Hemlock Street is the fifth potential candidate to show interest in running for one of three new councilor-at-large seats.

Alfred W. Varraso of Spruce Street, Harold J. Randolph of Liberty Street, Charles B. Ryan of Conrad Street and Leland A. Dingee of Glenrose Avenue have also taken out nomination papers for councilor-at-large seats.

Of those five, Gauthier is the only one to not have previously served as a selectman.

There are four races for the six district seats on the new town council.

David M. Shaw of Monatiquot Avenue, another former selectman, intends to run in District 2, along with John C. Mullaney of Herbert Road.

In District 4, Frank C. Boncaldo of Matthew Woods Drive and Richard A. Wentzel of Spring Street have taken out nomination papers.

In District 5, Matthew Wood of Robinson Avenue and Ronald E. DeNapoli of Kimball Road are collecting signatures.

And in District 6, the two candidates so far are Paul Dan Clifford of Saint Claire Street and Edward J. Langill III of Peach Street.

Also taking out nomination papers so far are Selectman Charles C. Kokoros of Solar Avenue in District 1, and Thomas M. Bowes of Sheppard Avenue in District 3.

Residents have until Sept. 14 to take out nomination papers, and until Sept. 18 to return them.

Rick Collins may be reached at rcollins@ledger.com.