The ballot will be crowded for May’s Grafton Town Election

Grafton’s Town Election has the potential to change the make-up of both Select Board and School Committee.

A wide-open Select Board race, coupled with increased interest in School Committee matters as a result of COVID-19, has drawn a larger-than-normal field — and hopefully, a larger-than-normal turnout at the polls May 17. The deadline for the return of nomination papers was 5 p.m. Tuesday.

With incumbents Peter Carlson and Doreen DeFazio declining to seek re-election, four hopefuls have emerged:

• Finance Committee member Andy Jefferson; 
• Richard Whitney, a current member of the Community Preservation Commission and a retired businessman;
• Carl Palmer, a senior cybersecurity analyst;
• Ann Marie Foley, who has served on multiple town committees, specializing in recreation and environmental projects.

There are three School Committee seats on the ballot and incumbent Jennifer Connelly will not seek re-election.

• Incumbent Amy Marr is seeking re-election to her three-year seat;
• Liora Bram, a communications and marketing professional who serves as co-chair of the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee;
• 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;
• Stacie Norton Bennett, a former teacher and director of programming and youth services for the Salvation Army in Worcester, has declared for a three-year seat;
• Mariagraciela Vargas-Baker, who was appointed to the School Committee in February, has declared for the one year remaining in the term of Rahul Rathi, who resigned in December.

Cherilyn Reno withdrew from the race on Tuesday, the deadline for nomination papers to be filed.

Rounding out the ballot

• Town Clerk Kandy Lavallee has returned papers for what may be her final election — the town is considering making her position appointed rather than elected.
• David Robbins and Prabhu Balaji Venkataraman are seeking re-election to the Planning Board.
• Dana Wilson, who is seeking re-election, and John Paul Bubriski are running for the Board of Library Trustees.

 Candidates may withdraw their nomination papers up until 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 14.

The last day to register to vote in the Town Election is April 19 at 8 p.m.