SOUTHWICK — Now that the Democratic and Republican Town Committees have conducted their caucuses and submitted their lists of candidates to Town Clerk Christie Myette for the open seats for the upcoming municipal elections, the ballot has been finalized.
While the race for the open seat on the Select Board will match political newcomers Russell Anderson and John Cain after Jason Perron decided against running for reelection, the town’s Chief Administrative Officer Nicole Parker was pleased that there are two candidates for the two open seats on the Planning Board.
“Yes, that’s a good thing,” Parker said.
The Planning Board has been limping along since two of members abruptly resigned in January, but even after the election, the board will once again face a shortage of members.
“I’m pleased that they have two people running to service,” said Planning Board member Jessica Ann Thornton who was elected chair after Michael Doherty, whose term would have ended in May, resigned in January.
Running for the two open seats is current Planning Board member Diane Juzba, who pulled papers and returned them and also put forward by the town’s Democratic Town Committee, and Jason Grunwald, a current member of the Housing Authority Board whose nomination was put forward by the town’s Republican Town Committee.
Juzba, who was an associate member, was appointed to the seat by the Select and Planning boards that was vacated after David Sutton resigned after being reelected last May to a third five-year term on the board.
Grunwald, if elected, will serve a five-year term in the seat formerly held by Doherty.
Despite the likelihood Juzba and Grunwald will be elected, current Planning Board member Richard Utzinger recently announced plans to retire once the two are elected.
“We still need another member and associate member,” Thornton said.
Of the other 18 seats up for grab are two open seats on the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District School Committee for three-year terms.
The Democratic Town Committee didn’t put forth a candidate for either seat, but Republican Town Committee put forth candidates for the seats held by former Select Board member Russell Fox and Desiree Melloni. Neither are running for reelection.
Melissa Morrissey and Jennifer Burkholder will be running for the two open seats.
For the two open seats on the Community Preservation Committee, incumbent Christopher Pratt returned nomination papers to appear on the ballot. He was also put forward by the Democratic Town Committee.
Bryan Walker returned nomination papers to run for the seat on the CPC currently held by Beth Lynn Thomas.
For the two open seats on the Board of Library Trustees incumbents Tammy Ciak-Bissaillon and Cynthia Ann Warner are running for reelection. Both seats have three-year terms. Warner was also put forward by the Democratic Town Committee.
Newcomer Erika Prouty is running for a seat on the Board of Health currently held by Emily Susan Brzoska. The seat has a three-year term.
Two Constable seats with three-year terms are up for grabs. The incumbents are Kelly Magni and William Terry and both will appear on the ballot. Both were put forward by the Republican Town Committee.
One seat is open on the Board of Assessors for a three-year term. The incumbent is Dean Horacek who is running for reelection. He was put forward by the Republican Town Committee.
There is one seat that has a three-year term on the Cemetery Commission. The incumbent is Norman Boucher, who will run for reelection. He was put forward by the Republican Town Committee.
Incumbent Patricia Odiorne on the Dickinson School Board of Trustees is running for reelection for the three-year term. She was put forward by the Republican Town Committee.
There is one open seat on the Parks and Recreation Commission and incumbent David DeiDolori will run for another three-year term. He was put forward by the Republican Town Committee.
There is an open seat for a five-year term on the Southwick Housing Authority. Incumbent Kevin LaFrance is not running for reelection. The Republican Town Committee put forward Christopher Grabowski.
Incumbent Edward Johnson will run for another three-year term on the Water Commission. He was put forth by the Republican Town Committee.
The deadline to register to vote in the municipal election is Friday, May 2. For those who want to vote by mail, applications for a ballot must be returned by May 6.
There will not be in-person early voting for this election.
