March 14, 2025 By Carol Britton Meyer
The deadline for submitting completed nomination papers to the town clerk’s office for the May 3 town election is next Monday, March 17, at 5 p.m.
There are two potential races — for sewer commission and board of assessors.
Current select board chair Joseph Fisher and Philip DeCola pulled nomination papers this week for the sewer commission. Fisher has not taken out papers to run for reelection to the select board.
Sara Abbott also pulled papers this week, for the board of assessors. Carlton Alan Chambers took out papers earlier and has returned his.
Citizens who take out nomination papers become official candidates once their papers are returned and certified.
If both Fisher and DeCola return their completed papers by the deadline and the signatures are certified, there will be a race for sewer commission.
If Abbott returns her papers and the signatures are certified, there will also be a board of assessors race.
Incumbents Christine Roberts and Kirk Shilts, of the board of assessors and sewer commission respectively, have not pulled papers.
As of Thursday, March 13, the following citizens had pulled nomination papers:
- Town Moderator (1-year term): Michael J. Puzo (candidate for re-election)
- Recreation Commission (5-year term): Adrienne Ramsey (candidate for re-election)
- Select Board (3-year term): Julie Moran Strehle
- School Committee (3 seats, 3-year term): Alyson Baron Anderson, Matthew J. Cosman, and John Mooney. Incumbent Nes Correnti is not running for reelection.
- Planning Board (5-year term): Crystal G. Kelly, Thomas F. Patch
- Municipal Light Board (3-year term): Michael D. Reive (candidate for re-election)
- Housing Authority (5-year term): Timothy Patrick Sullivan
- Board of Health (3-year term): Rosemary Byrne (candidate for re-election)
- Board of Assessors (3-year term): Carlton Alan Chambers, Sara Abbott
- Sewer Commission (3-year term): Philip A. DeCola, Joseph M. Fisher
Strehle, Chambers, Puzo, Anderson, Cosman, Reive, Ramsey, Mooney, Kelly, Byrne, and Sullivan have returned their papers.
Thomas F. Patch, who took out nomination papers for planning board, has not yet returned his papers. Neither housing authority member Megan Buhr nor planning board member Rita DaSilva have taken out papers for reelection.
The following officials have terms expiring in 2025:
- Town Moderator (1-year term): Michael J. Puzo
- Select Board (3-year term): Joseph Fisher
- Board of Assessors (3-year term): Christine Roberts
- Board of Health (3-year term): Rosemary Byrne
- Municipal Light Board (3-year term): Michael D. Reive
- Housing Authority (5-year term): Megan Buhr
- School Committee (3 seats) (3-year term): Alison Baron Anderson, Nancy (Nes) Correnti, Matthew J. Cosman
- Planning Board (5-year term): Rita DaSilva
- Sewer Commission (3-year term): Kirk Shilts
- Recreation Commission (5-year term): Adrienne Ramsey
Candidates for local office must be at least 18 years of age and be a registered voter in the Town of Hingham. Each candidate is expected to file with the town clerk, prior to obtaining blank nomination papers, a statement containing the individual’s name, address, and the town office for which the individual intends to be a candidate.
Candidates must obtain the signatures of at least 50 registered voters in the Town of Hingham on their nomination papers. However, it is recommended that candidates obtain 75 signatures.
Citizens who are interested in running for office are asked to call the town clerk’s office at (781) 741-1410 to schedule an appointment to pick up nomination papers. The filing deadline is Monday, March 17.
Vote by Mail an option
For information about how to vote by mail, go to https://www.hingham-ma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2051. Applications must be submitted to the town clerk’s office by April 28. Absentee voting is also available under certain circumstances.
In-person voting will take place May 3 at the high school, middle school, and Linden Ponds from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For election precincts and voting location information, go to https://www.hingham-ma.gov/957/Precincts-Voting-Locations
