Braintree Election 2021: 24 Candidates Signal Intention To Run

BRAINTREE, MA — The Braintree town election is still more than two months away, but several candidates for town council, school committee, housing authority and other positions have already signaled their intention to run for office.

As of Monday evening, 24 candidates told Town Clerk Jim Casey they intend to run in the town election on Nov. 2. Among those candidates are two former town councilors vying to get a seat again: Thomas Bowes in District 3 and John Mullaney in District 2.

There's also three open seats on the school committee, since Cyril Chafe, Jennifer Dolan and George Kokoros all said they won't seek re-election. Five candidates took out nomination papers to fill the seats. They include: former school committee member Lisa Fiske-Heger, Treacy Lewald, Stephanie Burrell, Caitlin Bradley and Thomas Thackeray.

Fiske-Heger served on the Braintree School Committee for eight years and was a candidate for mayor in 2019. She also chaired the "Vote Yes for Braintree Schools" committee, which led last year's successful campaign for a debt exclusion to pay for a new South Middle School.

As of Monday, two town council districts have competitive races, though that can still change. District 1 Councilor Julia Flaherty will square off with Jodi Walorz-Killeffer, while Mullaney will face Joseph Reynolds in District 2.

The school committee term is for four years, and town council seats are for two years.

Candidates include:

Town Council

Councilor At-large (three win)

• Shannon Hume (inc.)
• David Ringius (inc.)
• Charles Ryan (inc.)

District 1 (all districts pick one)

• Julia Flaherty (inc.)
• Jodi Walorz-Killeffer

District 2

• John Mullaney
• Joseph Reynolds

District 3

• Thomas Bowes

District 4

• Stephen O'Brien (inc.)

District 5

• Meredith Boericke (inc.)

District 6

• Larry Mackin (inc.)

School Committee

• Lisa Fiske-Heger
• Treacy Lewald
• Stephanie Burrell
• Caitlin Bradley
• Thomas Thackeray

Library Trustee

• Timothy Carey (inc.)
• Margaret Morton (inc.)
• Jeffrey Kunz (inc.)
• Robert McKeon

Electric Light Board

• James Regan (inc.)
• Thomas Reynolds (inc.)
• John McKinley

Housing Authority

• Albion Fletcher

Candidates have until 5 p.m. Sept. 10 to get nomination papers from the town clerk's office and have until 5 p.m., Sept. 14 to bring them back with the required number of signatures.