With just one week left to go in the filing period, there’s been little interest in running for local office in Petersburg.
The borough ballot this October will have 21 seats up for election, giving borough residents a chance to serve in a variety of municipal elected offices. Among the seats open are two on the borough assembly, so far without any takers. Those seats are held by Nancy Strand and John Havrilek until October.
Voters could also elect local residents to three seats on the school board, four spots on the hospital board and six of the seven seats on the borough’s planning and zoning commission. So far, three people have filed to serve on that commission, Otis Marsh, Mike Bangs, and Tom Stearns. In addition, planning commissioner Jim Demko resigned his seat this summer and that vacant seat will also be appearing on the October ballot.
There are also two seats available on each of three different advisory boards, for the harbor, library and public safety.
Gina Meucci is running for one public safety board seat and Chelsea Tremblay is running for one of the library board spots.
The filing deadline is next Tuesday, August 25th.
Meanwhile, it looks like there will be only one ballot question for voters to decide – that’s the exemption from state financial disclosure requirements. The borough assembly will vote to put that on the ballot this week. It’s the same question that residents voted down last year by a 29 vote margin. Filing of financial information is required for candidates running for assembly, school board, hospital board and planning commission.
Petersburg’s election is Tuesday, October 6th.