Editor's note: This article was updated Monday, Sept. 30, to add new information on the outcome of a meeting held Monday, and to include comments from Republican Town Committee Chairman Michael Rocha.

LITTLE COMPTON — Come Wednesday, Nov. 6, Little Compton could see an exceedingly rare, if not unprecedented, turn of events in Rhode Island —   a husband and wife serving together on the same school committee, following the resignation Monday of Megan Gonzalez, a Democrat voted in two years ago whose term expires in 2026.

Under the Little Compton Town Code, vacant elected seats are filled by the next highest vote getter in the previous election, should that person agree to step in.

In Little Compton’s case, that is Democrat Mark Gleicher, who finished just out of the running in 2022, is the highest vote getter not to earn a seat, and who said he is ready and willing to fill Gonzalez’s seat. His spouse Amy Gleicher, also a Democrat, is a candidate for one of two seats that will be filled by voters at the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election.

What’s next, and implications

The Little Compton Board of Canvassers met at 1 p.m. Monday to go over the 2022 election numbers and re-certify the results of the school committee race. Town Clerk Carol Wordell said the canvassers’ re-certification will be sent to the Little Compton Town Council for its approval on Thursday, Oct. 10.

If the results are re-certified, Mark Gleicher claims the seat and Amy Gleicher is elected to the committee on Tuesday, Nov. 5, it would be a rare event in Rhode Island, if not a first.

Though Rhode Island Ethics Commission investigator Gary Petrarca said he doesn't recall a similar husband and wife team on any school committee, it has happened at least before on a Rhode Island-based town council.

Linda Ujifusa, now a state Senator, and J. Mark Ryan served together on the Portsmouth Town Council for years. Though Petrarca did not reference them, he said  “there is nothing in the Code of Ethics that prohibits a husband and wife from serving on the same school committee.”

Speculation over the hypothetical ramifications has been swirling in Little Compton since Gonzalez’s announcement, specifically on the implications of a husband and wife serving — what would happen if two married members were appointed to a three-member school committee subcommittee? Or if one of the two was being considered for appointment as chairperson, a role that brings with it sligthtly higher financial compensation from the town?

Republican Town Committee chairman Michael Rocha II said this of the issue on Monday:

The process of filling vacancies for school committee members is indeed governed by the town code, ensuring a structured and transparent approach. If Mark Gleicher is next in line to join the committee, we will certainly welcome him and look forward to collaborating productively."

"However, there are some considerations regarding ethics and compliance with open meeting laws that need to be addressed in the event where Mark’s wife is elected to the same committee," Rocha said. "Concerns have been raised by the community about the appropriateness of having a husband and wife serve simultaneously on the same board. Such a situation could potentially present conflicts of interest or perceived biases, which might affect decision-making processes."

"The town would need to carefully review these factors to maintain the integrity and transparency of the committee's operations, ensuring alignment with ethical standards and legal requirements."

Rocha's counterpart Travis Auty, chairman of the Democratic Town Committee and also chairman of the school committee, said he would never allow two married members to sit on a three-member subcommittee.

“Despite our party affiliations, I try to make sure that we’re ethically aligned. I would never” allow the appointment of a married couple on the committee to serve as two members of a three-member board.

“I imagine, without even looking,” that the committee’s legal counsel would give the same advice, he said.

As for the question of voting for a spouse up for a leadership position, he said he would defer to the advice of the school committee’s legal counsel.

Board changes

Should Gleicher succeed Gonzalez, the current make-up of the school committee would be:

• Mark Gleicher, a Democrat who would be up for re-election in two years;

• Democrat Travis Auty, who is not up for re-election;

• Hannah Ayotte, a Democrat who is not seeking re-election;

• Incumbent Republican Michael W. Rocha II, the chairman of the Little Compton Republican Town Committee, who is up for re-election;

• Republican Sue Kinnane, who is not up for re-election.

Who’s on the ballot?

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, voters will choose among five hopefuls for two open seats. They include Democrat Amy Gleicher, ; Democrat Susan Chase; incumbent Mike Rocha; Republican hopeful Brandon Pineo, who ran unsuccessfully two years ago; and Independent Travis D. Snow.