Eligibility concerns haunt Marblehead Board of Assessors candidate Percy

MARBLEHEAD – Boston financial trader Douglas Percy has said he will seek re-election to the Board of Assessors despite a state letter that says he has not met “the minimum requirement” to serve on the board.Selectmen received a letter from the state Department of Revenue last year, based on the fact that Percy has not taken a state class on property assessment since he was appointed to the board.Percy was appointed to the board in 2008 in a joint meeting of the selectmen and the assessors. He was elected to the board in May 2009.Despite the letter, Percy attended a meeting with the Finance Committee on the assessors? budget. After the meeting, he said he has not taken the class because it was given on Cape Cod and his work schedule prevented him from making the trip.?They should give courses on-line,” he said.As of 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, less than a week before the deadline to submit nomination papers for town office, Percy had not taken out papers for re-election and Pond Street resident Rufus Titus has.There are definitely two contested races on the ballot for the May 14 town election.Recreation and Park Commissioners Charles “Chip” Osborne, Derek Norcross, Sam Ganglani, Linda Rice-Collins and Gerald Tucker face a challenge from Marblehead High hockey coach Robert Jackson.Municipal Light Commissioners Philip Sweeney and Wilbur Bassett also have a challenger, Leggs Hill Road resident John Williams.Town Clerk Robin Michaud has nomination papers available until Monday and they must be returned to Michaud?s office by 5 p.m. that day.Running unopposed so far are Selectmen Jackie Belf-Becker, Judy Jacobi, James Nye, Harry Christensen and Brett Murray, Town Moderator Gary Spiess and School Committee member Eu-Rim Chun.Planning Board members James Bishop and Karl Johnson, Water and Sewer Commissioner P. Thomas “Tom” Hamond, Board of Health member Michelle Gottlieb and Cemetery Commission member David Cashman are also up for re-election. All but Johnson have taken out papers for re-election.