Palmer declares for Select Board

Carl A. Palmer has pulled nomination papers to run for Select Board in the May 17 Town Election.

Palmer, a senior cybersecurity analyst, is now the third person to declare his candidacy for the two seats that are completely up for grabs — both Peter Carlson and Doreen Defazio will not be seeking re-election.

He joins Finance Committee member Andy Jefferson and Richard Whitney, a current member of the Community Preservation Commission and a retired businessman in the race.

Town Clerk Kandy Lavallee has also pulled papers for what may be her final election — the town is considering making her position appointed rather than elected.

There are three School Committee seats on the ballot for the Town Election and incumbent Jennifer Connelly has announced she will not seek re-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 in February, has also declared for the one year remaining in the term of Rahul Rathi, who resigned in December.;
• Liora Bram, a communications and marketing professional who serves as co-chair of the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee, has pulled nomination papers for a three-year seat;
• Cherilyn Reno, who has degrees in biochemistry and linguistics, is running for a three-year seat;
• Craig Juelis, a former principal in Medway and North Attleboro, has declared for a three-year seat.

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

No one has declared for the Board of Library Trustees.

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. Connelly is not seeking re-election.
• 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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