Bram hopes to grab seat on Grafton School Committee

Liora Bram already lobbied for a School Committee seat once this month. Now she’s getting down to political brass tacks: pulling nomination papers to run for School Committee in the May 17 election.

Bram, a communications and marketing professional, serves as co-chair of the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee. She has both a fourth and a seventh grader in the Grafton schools.

“I’m proud of the work the SEPAC Board has done to increase parent engagement and am eager to bring that experience to school committee and the GPS community as a whole,” Bram said. “Inclusion and equity benefit all students — with and without disabilities, from different backgrounds, and with different gifts and interests.  

“It is my hope, and it would be my honor, to work with the members of School Committee to continue to drive policies that give all of our students an opportunity to shine, pursue their passions, and reach their potential.”

There are three School Committee seats on the ballot for the Town Election. To date, incumbent Amy Marr, the current School Committee chair, has pulled nomination papers for re-election to her three-year seat. Mariagraciela Vargas-Baker, who was appointed to the School Committee earlier this month, has also declared for the one year remaining in the term of Rahul Rathi, who resigned in December. Incumbent School Committee member Jennifer Connelly has not announced if she will seek re-election to her three-year seat.

Also in the running thus far:

Select Board — Finance Committee member Andy Jefferson and Richard Whitney, a current member of the Community Preservation Commission and a retired businessman, are seeking nomination.

Planning Board: David Robbins and Prabhu Balaji Venkataraman are seeking re-election.

Nomination papers are now available in the Town Clerk’s office. Remaining seats on the ballot this year include:

• Select Board – Two 3-year terms, currently held by Peter Carlson and Doreen DeFazio, are up for election. Both are not seeking re-election. 
• School Committee — Two 3-year terms, currently held by Amy Marr and Jennifer Connelly and one 1-year term, now held by Mariagraciela Vargas-Baker.
• Board of Library Trustees – Two 3-year terms, currently held by Dana Wilson and Daniela Sharma, are up for election.
• Planning Board – Two 3-year terms, currently held by David Robbins and Prabhu Balaji Venkataraman, are up for election. 
• Town Clerk – One 3-year term, currently held by Kandy Lavallee, is up for election.

Papers must be returned by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29 for certification. Nomination papers must contain the names of at least 50 registered voters of Grafton, but candidates are urged to submit more than the minimum number required in case some names or signatures cannot be verified. Candidates may withdraw their nomination papers up until 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 14.

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