More candidates throw hat in the ring for seats on Select Board, other committees

Eight elected seats will be on the ballot for the May 3 Town Election. Nomination papers have been available at the Town Clerk’s office since Jan. 31, and must be returned with at least 50 registered voters’ signatures by March 7. So far, four incumbents have pulled papers, as have six hopefuls. 

Two three-year seats on the Select Board, currently held by Jim Munise and Patrick Tropeano, will be up for votes. A third one-year slot on the board will be on the ballot, as Peter Teitelbaum will be resigning on election day with one year left in his term. Tropeano is not seeking reelection, but Jim Munise is. 

Three candidates are set to join Munise on the ballot for the two three-year seats: Ron Besse, current Conservation Commission member; Jody Santagate, a current member of the Decas Steering Committee, Council on Aging, the Decas Foundation and mentor with CYE; and Jared Chadwick, the president of the Wareham Tigers.

Tricia Wurts, who ran a write-in campaign for the board in 2021 and is assisting the Redevelopment Authority with outreach, has pulled papers to run for the one-year seat on the board.

Margaret Ishihara, a lawyer, has pulled nomination papers for a three-year seat as Town Moderator. Current town Moderator Claire Smith has not yet pulled papers. She has served in the position for more than a decade.

Brennan McKiernan has pulled papers to run for a three-year seat on the School Committee, currently held by Mary Morgan. McKiernan first ran for School Committee last year. 

Town Clerk Michele Bissonnette, first elected in 2019, will be seeking another three-year term. 

David Halberstadt will be running for reelection to his three-year seat on the Board of Assessors, and Peter Dunlop will be seeking another three-year term as a Sewer Commissioner.