With nomination papers for the town’s upcoming April 2 election now available at Town Hall, the race to fill 10 open seats in Wareham is underway.

Selectman Patrick Tropeano was the first to pull nomination papers on Jan. 7, running for reelection to a three-year term on the Board of Selectmen.

This would be Tropeano’s third term as a Selectman since his election in 2013. He served an additional term as a Selectman from 2002 to 2005 and has a history in town politics dating back to 1996.

He’s served on multiple committees, including the Finance Committee for six and a half years.

“I bring a lot of institutional knowledge to the table, and I feel the town has benefitted from that,” Tropeano said. “If the people will have me, I want to continue to try and do what’s best for Wareham. I think we’re far better off now than we ever were before.”

Selectman Anthony Scarsciotti said he also plans to run for reelection to a three-year term, but has yet to pull papers for his seat.

If elected, this would be Scarsciotti’s second term with the Board of Selectmen.

“I want to continue to serve Wareham,” Scarsciotti said. “So hopefully the town will have me.”

Two seats on the school committee, one held by Mary Morgan and one vacated by Rebekah Pratt, are also up for grabs.

Morgan, who joined the School Committee in 2016, has not returned calls to say if she will run for reelection and has yet to pull papers for the three-year term.

Pratt, who’s seat is open for a two-year term, resigned from the School Committee in December after moving to Carver. She will not run for reelection.

The Board of Selectman and School Committee will discuss whether or not to fill Pratt’s position until the election on Jan. 8.

Likewise, Roxanne Barboza will not run for reelection to the Board of Assessors since her move out of town. Barboza’s seat is open for a three-year term.

Town Clerk Mary Anne Silva will not seek reelection, either, having announced her intentions to retire at Fall Town Meeting.

Silva served as Wareham’s Town Clerk for 21 years and said that she would be available to offer guidance to her successor. The seat is for a three-year term.

“I’m going to be honest with you,” Silva said at Fall Town Meeting. “I’m not going to miss the politics, but I will miss the people.”

Claire Smith, who’s seat as Town Moderator is up for a three-year term, said she has yet to decide if she will run for reelection or not. Smith has served as Town Moderator in Wareham for nine years.

“I think it’s good to have change,” she said. “But sometimes it’s not.”

With so many positions open this election cycle, Smith said she was struggling with a sense of responsibility.

“We could have five new faces at Town Meetings,” Smith said. “So if I was going to run again, it would only be for one more term to help them get established.”

Jean Connaughton, whose seat is open for a five-year term on the Housing Authority, said she plans to run for reelection and will pull papers later this month.

Connaughton joined the board for a one-year term last year after sitting commissioner Rudy Santos passed away in August of 2017.

“I’ve enjoyed my time with the Housing Authority,” Connaughton said. “And I’d like it to continue.”

A three-year seat for a Sewer User Commissioner, currently held by Peter Dunlop, is also open. Dunlop has not returned calls to say if he will run for reelection and has yet to pull papers for seat.

Nomination papers can obtained from the Town Clerk’s office in Town Hall, located at 54 Marion Road, until Thursday, Feb. 7.

The last day to return completed nomination papers is Wednesday, Feb. 11 by 5 p.m. in the Town Clerk's office.

The last day to register to vote in the town election or at Town Meeting will be Wednesday, March 13 until 8 p.m. in the Town Clerk’s office.