Warren works to fill Charter Review Commission seats

With two candidates for nine-member board, town looks to write-in candidates to fill remaining seats

By Ted Hayes
Posted 11/12/20

Though the election was more than a week ago, it will still take some time before town officials know the make-up of the Charter Review Commission.

Though the commission will be made up of nine …

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Warren works to fill Charter Review Commission seats

With two candidates for nine-member board, town looks to write-in candidates to fill remaining seats

Posted

Though the election was more than a week ago, it will still take some time before town officials know the make-up of the Charter Review Commission.

Though the commission will be made up of nine members, only two candidates — former Warren Fire Chief Al Galinelli and outgoing school committee member John C. Bento — declared their intent to run for the commission and thus had their names on the ballot.

The other seven seats will be filled by write-in candidates, of which there were 502.

Last Friday, officials in Warren Town Clerk Julie Coelho's office reached out to the top write-in candidates to inform them that they had enough votes to serve, and asked them whether they wanted to. On Tuesday, Deputy Town Clerk Sandra Speroni said that six had responded, all agreeing to serve. The seventh had not yet responded, she said, and if he does not, or does and declines the seat, clerks will move to the next highest vote getter and ask her if she would like to serve.

As of Tuesday, the following top write-in candidates had expressed their interest in sitting on the board:

    1. Former Warren Town Manager Jan Reitsma, with 14 votes.
    2. Riley Rancourt, with 13 votes.
    3. Sarah Weed, with 13 votes.
    4. Frank Alfano, with nine votes.
    5. Charles "Chuck" Thibaudeau, with eight votes.
    6. Patrick O'Brien, with seven votes.

Tied with Mr. O'Brien was resident Thomas Hale, with seven votes. He had not responded as of Tuesday.

Ms. Speroni said the results are still not official, as the state has not yet certified the election. Thus, Ms. Speroni said, things could change.

"Until the state certifies, nothing can go forward," she said.

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