LEE -- A potential three-way race for a seat on the Board of Selectman will likely highlight the annual town election next month.
Planning Board member Thomas Wickham and local businesswoman Anne Langlais have turned in nomination papers to challenge incumbent Patricia Carlino on April 30.
However, Carlino, who chose not to file papers by Tuesday's deadline, will attempt to get on the ballot as the Democratic party nominee later this week. Lee's registered Democrats will caucus from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday night to pick candidates for the town election.
The Republican town caucus will follow from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Both caucuses are being held in the former courtroom at Town Hall.
Carlino is seeking a sixth consecutive three-year term on the Board of Selectmen. The current board chairwoman has a lengthy local political resume, having served on the Planning Board, Lee School Committee and as town clerk.
Aside from the Planning Board, Wickham serves as chairman of the town's Energy Efficiency Committee, which last year brokered a deal to establish a municipal solar energy project. The yet-to-be built solar arrays are expected to reduce Lee's electricity costs to its town buildings.
Langlais has been involved in several town issues and currently serves as a town meeting representative, an elected position. She is one of 54 representatives from the town's six districts authorized to vote at Lee's annual and special town meetings.
Langlais
So far, the selectman's race is the only political contest on the town election ballot. Barring additional nominees from Friday's town caucuses, the remaining incumbents seeking re-election will run unopposed.
Loren Kinnaman and Robert E. Lohbauer are the lone candidates seeking three-year terms for the two seats available on the seven-member School Committee. R. Christopher Brittain wants one more year as Town Moderator, and Jody Decker is after another a five-year term on the Lee Housing Authority.
Meanwhile, candidates are lacking for five-year term available on the Planning Board as no one filed nomination papers by Tuesday's deadline. Incumbent Anthony Caropreso has opted against seeking re-election to the five-member board.
Caucus nominees or write-in candidates could emerge to help fill the position.
What's next ...
Friday: Registered Democrats and Republicans in Lee will caucus at Town Hall to select candidates for the annual town election next month. Democrats vote from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by Republicans from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
April 10: Last day to register to vote, if not already registered, and/or change party affiliation.
April 30: Town election to coincide with U.S Senate primary. Polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
To reach Dick Lindsay:
rlindsay@berkshireeagle.com,
or (413) 496-6233.s
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