Wareham voters will head to the polls today, April 2, to fill three seats on the Board of Selectmen and, in uncontested races, appoint a Town Clerk, Moderator, and members of the School Committee, Board of Assessors, and Housing Authority.

The only contested race on the ballot is for two, three-year terms on the Board of Selectmen. Incumbents Steve Holmes of Onset Avenue and Cara Winslow of Peaceful Lane are seeking re-election. They are challenged by Frank DeFelice of Maki Way and Patrick Tropeano of Dowd Avenue. Click on the candidates' names for profiles about them!

Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Here's where to vote: Precinct 1 voters cast ballots at Town Hall; Precinct 2 votes at the Ethel E. Hammond Elementary School; Precinct 3 residents vote at Minot Forest Elementary; Precincts 4 and 5 voters cast ballots at the John W. Decas Elementary School; Precinct 6 residents vote at the Wareham Lodge of Elks.

Here's a little bit about the rest of the ballot. For more information, click here!

Selectmen, one-year term

Judy Whiteside of Great Neck Road is running unopposed for a one-year term on the Board of Selectmen, created when Ellen Begley resigned earlier this year.

Whiteside served as Selectman in the early 1980s -- her last name was "Montminy" then. She resigned when the board appointed a town administrator she didn’t think was qualified for the job.

“The Board of Selectmen appointed a Town Administrator who had absolutely no qualifications. They didn’t advertise, they didn’t look around for the best candidate,” said Whiteside.

A year later, in 1985, she came to serve on the board again when four members of the incumbent board were ousted by a recall petition.

In her year as Selectman, Whiteside says she wants to work on getting the town its own Red Cross shelter. During the recent blizzard, the town's Multi-Service Center was used as a place for residents to warm up, but there is no budget for food or other services one might find at a Red Cross shelter.

Whiteside also said she'd like to help bring unity to the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee.

Whiteside has served on the Finance Committee, and worked as a commercial banker for 23 years, before becoming an English teacher at Wareham High School in 1999. She retired from teaching last June.

School Committee

Incumbent Rhonda Veugen of Glen Charlie Road is running for re-election to the School Committee.

With Superintendent Dr. Barry Rabinovitch retiring in July, and a $1.8 million difference between what the School Department is asking for in its budget and what the town is able to provide, Veugen says she realizes both the challenges and opportunities in her second term.

Veugen, whose background is in fundraising, says she hopes to find unconventional ways to get money into the school system. She hopes to explore more grants, fundraising, and other initiatives, she said.

Town Moderator

Incumbent Town Moderator Claire Smith of Old Plate Road is uncontested on the ballot, though Weweantic Shores resident Bill Whitehouse has announced his intention to run a write-in campaign for the position.

Whitehouse has declined to comment.

If elected, it will be Smith's second term as moderator. She says she wants to continue efforts to make Town Meeting more accessible for voters.

Smith has helped create a guide for citizens who want to write an article for Town Meeting and petition for it to be on the warrant, which includes instructions on how to make something into a formal Town Meeting "motion."

Town Clerk, Assessors, Housing Authority

Town Clerk Mary Ann Sliva is seeking re-election. Silva has served as clerk since 1998, and says she hopes to stay until it’s time for retirement.

Roxanne Barboza of Swifts Beach Road is running unopposed for a three-year Board of Assessors seat, which is vacated by Brenda Eckstrom. Barboza, who formerly worked in the Town Clerk's office, says she is running for the seat because she is passionate about helping people.

Robert Powilatis of Cory Drive is unopposed for a five-year term on the Housing Authority.

Powilatis served as the First Deputy State Auditor, retiring from the position in 2002. He stayed on as a consultant to the office until 2010. Before moving to Wareham in 2010, he served on the Holbrook Board of Selectmen, Board of Assessors, and the Housing Authority. He says his experience in state government will be useful to the Housing Authority in seeking grant money for housing programs.