Lombard to seek re-election

NAHANT – The annual town election is not until spring, but rumors have already surfaced in town that Selectman Richard Lombard will not be seeking re-election.Lombard, who has been a selectman for 33 years, wants to set the record straight.?I am running for re-election,” Lombard said. “I am going to seek one more term on the Board of Selectmen. My name will be on the ballot at the annual Town meeting in April.”The news Lombard intended to run for re-election caught two candidates in the upcoming special election and their supporters unawares. Two candidates, Jennifer McCarthy and Lainey Titus, are jockeying for a seat on the Board of Selectmen in a special town election on Oct. 19 being held to fill a seat left vacant when former selectmen Robert “Skip” Frary resigned earlier this year.Members of both camps said they had heard Lombard is stepping down.McCarthy admits the news he is running again was a surprise, but she is focusing her attention on the rapidly approaching Oct. 19 special election.?I’m surprised to hear he is running. I don’t know yet if I will run in April if I lose the special election. It’s something I would have to think about,” she said.Titus said she is just thinking about getting through this election cycle.?I am running because I have desire to serve,” she said. “If I were not successful this time, it would be a whole different decision as to whether I will run. I won’t be prepared to make that decision until after this election.”Lombard said he has one more project he would like to see through to fruition before he steps down.?I have one more major project I want to see completed before I retire from the Board of Selectmen,” he said. “I want to see the beautification of the entrance to town completed.”He said the beautification project would coincide with the completion of the $20 million Nahant Causeway rehabilitation project, which got underway this spring.?This would be a major project,” Lombard said. “We want to put gas type lamps in for lighting at the entrance to town. We want to move the wires underground and spruce up the whole area.”