Town election on the horizon as nomination paper deadline announced

A new election cycle has arrived in Wareham, and multiple seats across various committees are up for grabs including two select board seats.

Wareham nomination papers were released Monday, Feb. 9 with eight seats available. With several current committee member's terms expiring, many are aiming to join in the race once again for another three-year term.

The Wareham town election will be held Tuesday, May 5 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Two Select Board seats are open, and Chair Judith Whiteside and Clerk Sarah Corbitt are both running for reelection. Whiteside was reelected in 2023, and Crobitt in 2024. 

Whiteside declined to comment at the time of publication but confirmed her commitment to running once more. Whiteside has served five terms on the select board and aims to make that six. 

Corbitt said she was "1000%" about entering the race again as an incumbent. 

"I've been running since I was elected,” Corbitt said.  “I only had two years, you just can't get enough done in two years."

Two School Committee seats are also available, with Vice Chair Kevin Brogioli and Secretary Bacchiocchi's terms set to expire in May. Though Brogioli couldn't be reached, Bacchiocchi said she was "unsure" if she would be running again.

Bacchiocchi has served on the committee since 2017 alongside Brogioli, who was elected in 2020. 

The Board of Assessors, responsible for evaluating all commercial and personal property within the town, has two seats available. 

Members James McCahill and Priscilla Porter are up for reelection. McCahill was not available for comment, but Porter said both intend to rerun for their seats. 

"(McCahill) definitely has plans to run," Porter said. 

Porter said she has learned a lot during her time on the board and plans to run again. She said her time on the Financial Committee helped her get acclimated and comfortable working on the Board of Assessors.

"I've learned a lot coming into this job," she said. "I've always done accounting work, trying to figure out the municipal side is kind of different." 

The sewer commission has two seats available, one for At Large Sewer Commissioner and one for Sewer User Commissioner. Vice Chair Robert Scanlan and Citizen at Large Scott Soby are up for reelection in May.

Scanlan, who won his seat with a write-in campaign in 2023, was not available for comment. Scoby, who could not be reached, was appointed by the Select Board after a ballot error for the 2025 town election did not include a position for member-at-large.

At the time of publication, no papers have been drawn from non-incumbents.

The last day to request nomination papers is Monday, March 16. Potential candidates must return the form by 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 17.

Wareham community members can register to vote now until Saturday, April 25.