Westminster's Annual Citizens' Caucus Results
by Jen Shenk
Thanks to people interested in running for an elected position in Westminster and all 'the regulars' for attending the annual Westminster's Citizens' Caucus on Monday, February 22, 2010 at Westminster Elementary School. Westminster residents interested in running for any of these positions must pick up nomination papers at the Town Clerk's Office at Town Hall and return them with signatures of 32 registered Westminster voters by Tuesday, March 9 to have their name added to the ballot. One of the functions of the Caucus is to make sure that each open position has at least one person running.
The Caucus was, as usual, led by Bob Sampson with Denise MacAloney as Clerk of the Caucus. Residents Stanley Skamarycz and Bill Goodwin collected the paper ballots and counted votes.
The meeting started with a bang when Ken Burstall nominated current Selectboard Chair Nick Hay for Board of Selectmen and then Selectman John Fairbanks nominated Joe Flanagan. Joe is currently on the Mixed Use Overlay Committee.
When the paper ballots were counted, Joe Flanagan had taken the Caucus nomination for Selectman 46 - 17. What does this mean? Joe Flanagan's name will be listed first and in bold type on the printed ballot on election day and he does not need to collect the required 32 signatures that other candidates have to submit to the Town Clerk's Office.
Walter Taylor narrowly won the nomination over Shawn O'Leary (28 - 26) for Cemetary Commission and Don Barry (40 votes) and Bud Taylor (44 votes) were close for being the Caucus nominees for the two open seats on the Planning Board (which was fine since there were two vacancies). Mike Fortin took the Caucus nomination for Claude LeBlanc's vacated position on the ballot. The 1 year position on the Planning Board was created when Claude LeBlanc submitted his resignation, effective in April.
| Position | Caucus Nominee |
|---|
| Board of Selectmen | Joe Flanagan |
| Board of Health | Ed Simoncini |
| Board of Assessors | Robin Holm |
| Library Trustees | Beth D'Onfro |
| Library Trustees | Rob Hynes |
| Hager Park Commission | Andy Kaski |
| Planning Board | Don Barry |
| Planning Board | Bud Taylor |
| Planning Board (1 year) | Mike Fortin |
| Housing Authority | Louise Garland-Wheelen |
| Housing Authority | no nominee |
| Constable | Robert Cudak |
| Cemetery Commission | Walter Taylor |