Crowd of candidates seeks Tiverton offices

By Tom Killin Dalglish
Posted 7/6/16

TIVERTON —Tiverton voters will have a field of 43 candidates to sort through when they vote to fill major public offices in Town this November. Almost half (19) are running for Town Council, including a father and son (the Lebeau's) and a husband and wife (the O'Dells).

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Crowd of candidates seeks Tiverton offices

Posted

TIVERTON —Tiverton voters will have a field of 43 candidates to sort through when they vote to fill major public offices in Town this November. Almost half (19) are running for Town Council, including a father and son (the Lebeau's) and a husband and wife (the O'Dells).
Town Council
The Town Council has seven members, holding two-year terms. All seven positions are open, so seven candidates will be elected. Only one current council member, Brett Pelletier, has decided not to run again. 19 candidates have declared of whom seven will win seats. Positions are non-partisan.
Candidates in alphabetical order are: Michael S.Burk, Joan B. Chabot, Donna J. Cook, Renee deJesus-Jones, Denise deMedeiros, John G. Edwards V, Patricia M. Hilton, Jay J. Lambert, Craig A. Lebeau, Randy J. Lebeau, Peter A. Mello, James O'Dell, Madeline O'Dell, David Perry, Joseph C. Perry Jr., Leslie A. Poldervaart, Christine E. Ryan, Joseph R. Sousa, and Andrea L. Souza.
Randy J. Lebeau and Craig A. Lebeau are father and son, respectively. James O'Dell and Madeline O'Dell are husband and wife.
Budget Committee
The Budget Committee consists of 11 members, holding six-year terms. The positions are non-partisan. The terms of six of the current members expire this November, so there will be six candidates to be elected, a majority. Nine candidates have declared.
The nine declared candidates are (in alphabetical order): Jeffrey E. Caron, Alexander J. Cote, Robert D. Coulter, Jay F. Edwards, Ruth E. Hollenbach, Justin David Katz, Brendan C. McNalley, John A. Perkins Jr., and Jennifer J. Rashleigh
Of the six departing members whose terms will be expiring, only one (Alexander J. Cote) has decided to run again. Current members not running again are Jospeh F. Bento, Louise Durfee, Laura L. Epke, Joshua A. Mello, and Madeline O'Dell.
School Committee
The School Committee consists of five members, holding staggered four-year terms. The four-year terms of three members — Sally A. Black, Carol J. Herrmann and Jerome M. Larkin — expire this November, and all three are running for re-election.
The "term" of a fourth member, James Arruda, also expires this November, but it presents an unusual problem that Sally Black — current committee chairwoman and long-time school committee observer — says has never happened before.
Mr. Arruda was appointed last year by the Town Council to fill the unexpired term of Jan Bergandy, who was elected to a four year term in 2014, but who resigned his position last year.
When Mr. Arruda was appointed to Mr. Bergandy's vacated position, it was understood that under the Town Charter, he would have to stand for election this year in order to fill the remaining two-years of Mr. Bergandy's unexpired four-year term, which ends in November 2018.
But Mr. Arruda’s declaration of candidacy (in fact the declarations of all candidates) declares only that he is running for the School Committee.
Town Clerk Nancy Mello said that, with respect to the school committee,"we will list on the ballot as the lowest vote-getter receives the two year unexpired term."
There are seven declared candidates. Four will be elected, one of whom will be assigned the two-year term. Positions are non-partisan.
The seven candidates for school committee positions are, in alphabetical order: James Arruda, Sally A. Black, Diane M. Farnworth, Carol J. Herrmann, Jerome M. Larkin, Linda Larsen, and Elaine D. Pavao.
Town Clerk, Treasurer, and Judge of Probate
Three non-partisan incumbent town officials — Town Clerk Nancy L. Mello, Town Treasurer Denise G. Saurrette, and Judge of Probate Richard P. D'Addario — are all running for re-election to two-year terms.
State office candidates
Tiverton residents filing for state offices are:
• State Senator (District 12): Richard A. Rom (Republican). Mr. Rom will face opposition in the Sept. 13 primary from Amy Veri, a Republican candidate for the seat, from Little Compton. The District 12 Senate seat (which includes portions of Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, and Tiverton) is currently held by Louis P. DiPalma (D)
• State Senator (District 11): John A. Pagliarini Jr. (Republican)
• State Representative (District 71): Justin Wallace LaCroix (Republican)
• State Representative (District 70): Stephen Cabral (Republican). Mr. Cabral will face opposition in the Sept. 13 primary from Anthony J. Rego (Republican)
* State Representative (Distict 70): John G.(Jay) Edwards (Democrat).

The last date for candidates to pull out of the race and withdraw their candidacy is July 18.

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