LITTLE COMPTON — Candidates running for Town Council and School Committee are the only candidates in town facing competititon in the 2016 election cycle.
All other positions, and the candidates seking them, are uncontested.
Town Council
Eight candidates are running for five open town council positiions. Council terms are two years, and all expire in November. All positions are partisan. The five incumbent council members, all declaring as Republicans, are being challenged by two candidates who have declared themselves as Independents and one who has declared himself a Libertarian.
The five highest vote-getters will win seats.
The eight candidates, listed in alphabetical order, are: Jeremy T. Allen (Independent), Charles N. Appleton Jr. (Incumbent, R), Fred M. Bodington III (Incumbent, R), Matthew W. Gillette (Libertarian), Paul J. Golembeske (Incumbent, R), Gary S. Mataronas (Incumbent, R), Robert L. Mushen (Incumbent, R), James W. H. Tumber (Independent).
School Committee
The school committee consists of five members, holding four-year staggered terms. Two positions are open and up for grabs this election cycle. Four candidates (one an incumbent) are running. The positions are partisan. The two highest vote-getters will win seats.
Current school committee member (and chairman) Thomas C. Allder is not running for re-election.
In alphabetical order, the four school committee candidates are: Edward H. Bowen III (Independent), Peg Bugara (Incumbent, R), Jana P. Porter (Independent), and Joseph M. Quinn (R).
Other town offices
All candidates for major town offices in Little Compton are unopposed.
• Town Clerk: Carol A. Wordell (R)
• Tax Assessor: Robert H. Goff Jr. (Independent)
• Treasurer/Collector of Taxes: Mary Jane M. Harrington (D)
• Town Moderator: Scott A. Morrison
State Senate (Dist. 12): Amy E. Veri (R) of Little Compton has filed for the Dist. 12 Senate seat.
Also filing for the same position is Richard A. Rom (R), of Tiverton. Ms. Veri and Mr. Rom will face each other in the Sept. 13 Republican primary. The District 12 Senate seat (which includes portions of Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, and Tiverton) is currently held by Louis P. DiPalma (D).
The last date for candidates to pull out of the race and withdraw their candidacy is July 18.