SOUTHWICK — The Town Clerk has nomination papers ready for those who are seeking to fill the 16 board, commission, and committee seats up for election during the May municipal election.
“I encourage anyone interested in serving in our town’s municipal government to consider taking out nomination papers,” Town Clerk Christie Myette said.
The race that will be most watched will be for the open seat on the Select Board currently held by Diane Gale, who was elected to her first three-term on the board in 2023 when she prevailed over former board Chair Russ Fox by 35 votes.
Gale wasted no time picking up her nomination papers from the Town Clerk, posting on her Facebook reelection page a copy of the filled-out nomination form.
“Looking forward to May. I picked up my nomination papers seeking to serve this community for a second term on the Southwick Select Board,” Gale wrote on her page.
And former Select Board member Joseph Deedy didn’t waste any time either. He pulled his nomination papers on Monday.
Deedy served nine years on the board starting in 2013. In 2022 he squared off against political newcomer Jason Perron, who bested Deedy by 83 votes out of 1,171 cast.
On Tuesday, Deedy said he pulled papers because he believes leadership works best when it’s “grounded, thoughtful, and accountable.”
“I’m approaching this election with patience, respect for the process, and a commitment to moving forward with the right ideas and the right intentions,” Deedy said.
When residents head to the polls on May 12, they will also choose 12 seats on the town’s boards and commissions to fill.
There is one seat open on the Board of Assessors, which is currently held by William A. Brown IV. It is for a three-year term.
On the Board of Health, one seat is open for a three-year term, which is currently held by Terry Hannah Putnam.
Two of the seats Gene H. Theroux currently holds, as a cemetery commissioner and as a Dickinson School trustee, are each open for three-year terms.
There are two seats open on the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District School Committee. Fox, who was appointed in 2025 to fill the seat held by Erika Emmelmann, who resigned, and Ryan W. Korobkov are the incumbents. Each seat has a three-year term.
The Town Moderator position, which has a three-year term, is up for grabs. Celeste St. Jacques is the incumbent.
There are two seats open on the Parks & Recreation Commission. The seats, which have three-year terms, are currently held by Michael T. Sheil and John Whalley III.
Whalley III’s seat on the Community Preservation Committee is also open. It has a three-year term. Whalley III pulled nomination papers for both seats Monday, according to Myette.
On the Planning Board, the seat currently held by Marcus G. Phelps will be contested. It has a five-year term.
On the Southwick Public Library Board of Trustees, there are two seats open with three-year terms. They are currently held by Andrea Bugbee and Michael McMahon.
There is also one seat, with a two-year term, opening on the Library Board of Trustees. It is currently held by Kathleen Fischbach, who was appointed last July to the seat, replacing Jennifer Belden, who resigned.
On the Water Commission, one seat, currently held by John F. Cain, is open. It is for a three-year term,
There is an open seat for a five-year term on the Southwick Housing Authority. The seat is now held by Kevin LaFance. It is a seat for a five-year term.
Nomination papers will be available until March 21 and can be picked up at the Town Clerk’s office in Town Hall.
The deadline to submit unenrolled nomination papers is March 24.
The last date for the Democratic and Republican caucuses to be held is April 4.
If there are any citizens’ petitions for the May Town Meeting, the deadline for those is April 17.
The election will be held on May 13.
