Special Town Election could bring greater complications

Date: 4/2/2012

April 2, 2012

By Chris Maza

chrism@thereminder.com

LONGMEADOW — The May 15 Special Town Election could spell complications for the town of Longmeadow's Annual Town Election on June 12.

The Special Election, which is taking place to fill the seat vacated by Christine Swanson in January for one year, saw two candidates come forward in Mark Barowsky and Richard Foster.

"We were compelled by a citizen's petition to hold this election," Select Board Chair Mark Gold said, explaining the Select Board hoped to continue working with a four-person board until the Annual Town Election replenished its ranks.

At the Annual Town Election, two open seats on the Select Board will be filled. Paul Santaniello and Robert Aseltine's terms are due to expire this year and while Santaniello will seek re-election, Aseltine has announced he will not. Barowsky and Foster have also turned in nomination papers for that election.

"The issue there is what happens if someone who was already elected in the special election gets elected again?" Gold said.

Gold explained that conversations with the state have drawn the conclusion that the name of the winner of the Special Town Election cannot be removed from the ballot for the Annual Town Election, leaving open the possibility for one person to win two seats on the Select Board, which is not allowed by law.

"The person who wins the special election can run through town and tell people not to vote for him, but there's nothing we can do to take the name off the ballot," Gold said.

Gold also said that as of now there is no contingency for the situation and that the state agencies involved will not speak to hypothetical situations.

"They tell us that when something happens to give them a call," he said.

Gold also expressed disappointment in the fact that there are no other contested races in the Annual Town Election.

Kathryn Girard and James Desrochers are vying for two three years seats on the school committee. Laurie Flynn, who was elected to the School Committee in June 2011 has elected not to run again, as has Owen Humphries, who was appointed to a vacated seat in October. 2011. Elizabeth Bone is the sole candidate for one two-year seat on the School Committee and Gerard Kiernan was the only one to turn in papers for a one-year position.

Michael Kallock is running unopposed for town moderator, as is Bernard Cohen for Housing Authority and Bruce Colton for Planning Board.