Marblehead elections beginning to shape up

MARBLEHEAD – Thursday afternoon, little more than two weeks before the deadline to return nomination papers, there were still no candidates for a vacant seat on the School Committee.Those wishing to seek office in the May 11 town election must return nomination papers to the town clerk’s office by 5 p.m. Monday, March 23. Papers may be taken out as late as March 23, but must be returned with 50 certifiable signatures.The current incumbent, James Dearborn, gave notice that he intends to step down May 11, at the conclusion of his first three-year term.As of Thursday afternoon, however, races were shaping up for seats on the Trustees of the Abbot Public Library and the Recreation and Park Commission.Library trustee incumbent Susan Indresano and Peggy Geist Blass and a challenger, Barbara Collins Rosenberg, have taken out papers for the two available three-year seats. Library trustee appointee Maura Phelan Murnane, who was elected to her post last year by the selectmen and the trustees, has taken out papers to run for the remaining year in her term. Rosenberg also sought that seat.All five members of the Recreation and Parks Commission are elected to one-year terms and must run for re-election if they want to keep their seats. This year commission member David Rodgers is stepping down after 11 one-year terms, including the past two years.There are now six candidates for the five available seats: incumbent Commissioners Charles Osborne Jr., Derek Norcross, Sam Ganglani and Linda Rice Collins and challengers Rose Ann Wheeler McCarthy and Clifton Heights Lane resident Charles Nyren.On the Board of Health, longtime member Carl Goodman – 24 of the last 27 years – is stepping down this spring. A Swampscott native, Goodman moved to Marblehead with his parents while in junior high and his time in public office also includes two years on the Board of Selectmen. A lawyer, he won his first term on the health board by six votes after a recount in 1982.Naugus Avenue resident Matthew Herring has taken out papers for Goodman’s seat.All five incumbent selectmen have made it to the Abbot Hall office of Town Clerk Robin Michaud to take out papers for their re-election, including Selectmen Jackie Belf-Becker, Judy Jacobi, Harry Christensen, William Woodfin and James Nye.There are two candidates for a seat on the Housing Authority: Kris Larson and Pamela Foye.Board of Assessors member Douglas Percy has not taken out papers for election yet. Percy was named to that board by a vote of the selectmen and assessors last year. Planning Board member Karl Johnson also has yet to take out papers.Town Moderator Gary Speiss has taken out papers for another one-year term. So have Cemetery Commissioner Dexter Gillis, Housing Authority member Kris J. Larson, Municipal Light Commissioners Phillip Sweeney and Wilbur Bassett, Planning Board members James Bishop and Water and Sewer Commissioner Emerson Brown.