The ballot for next month's election is set, with several contested races and more than a few with nobody interested in running.

Apart from a $35 million debt exclusion question that will face voters Tuesday, April 9, there are 17 open seats on 13 boards. The most highly contested race is for the Select Board, where three candidates are vying for two open seats. Incumbent chairman Richard Brewer is running for re-election and is being challenged by Craig Dutra and Nancy Stanton-Cross, currently on the school committee.

Stanton-Cross, who in January pulled papers to run for both the select board and her incumbent position, is now out of the school committee race. Running instead for two positions on the school committee are candidates Christopher Thrasher, currently the chairman the Long-Term Plannin Building Evaluation Committee, and Jason Pacheco.

Following is the state of the other races:

• Planning Board: With one seat available, Robert Daylor is running unopposed;

• With two seats available on the library board of trustees, Laura Beth Bennett and Donald Gene Davidson Jr., both incumbents, are running for re-election;

• With one housing authority position available, hopeful Timothy Michael Cayton is the only candidate;

• Sue Ann McDermott is running for the sole open position on the board of assessors;

• Nobody is running for the two open three-year positions on landing commissioners. Incumbent Jefferson L. Bull pulled papers for re-election, but is not on the ballot.

• Nobody is running to fill an unexpired term on the housing authority. Other positions without candidates include commissioner of trust funds (one position), fish commissioner, landing commissioner (one-year term), and housing authority (one position).

• Philip J. Weinberg, an incumbent, is running to retain his position on the board of health.

Debt exclusion

Voters will also be asked if they want to approve a debt exclusion question that would give Westport the ability to borrow up to $35 million to fund a sewer and water project along the greater Route 6 area. Proponents say the infrastructure project, which would bring sewer and improved water to the corridor from Fall River to Dartmouth, would create new economic vitality to the north end, and would also result in a significant reduction in pollution in the Westport River.

State law prohibits noting the dollar amount attached to the debt exclusion question. On a sample ballot, it reads thus:

"Shall the Town of Westport be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to engineer, design, and construct water and sewerage systems in the greater Route 6 area?