Two Contested Races Top Braintree Town Election Ballot

BRAINTREE, MA — November's Braintree Town Election is shaping up to have two contested races on the ballot.

The race for Councilor John Mullaney's District 2 seat has attracted three candidates in Jeffrey Alan Burrell Jr. of Capen Road, Michael Moran of Washington Street and Thomas Whalen of Oak Street. Mullaney has chosen to leave the council after five terms.

In the District 6 race, former Department of Conservation and Recreation official Matthew Sisk is the lone candidate. Councilor Paul "Dan" Clifford pulled papers, but announced Tuesday that he is leaving the council and is backing Sisk.

In District 5, school committee member David Ringus is the only candidate for the seat currently held by Councilor Michael Owens, who is leaving the council at the end of his term to attend law school.

At-large councilors Shannon Hume, Sean Powers, and Charles Ryan; District 1 Councilor Charles Kokoros; District 3 Councilor Thomas Bowes; and District 4 Councilor Stephen O'Brien will enter the election uncontested.

The race for three seats on the Braintree School Committee initially appeared to be a contested race with four candidates pulling papers for three seats. However, Kenneth Belcher withdrew, all but assuring reelection for committee members Cyril Chafe and George Kokoros and a spot on the committee for newcomer Jennifer Dolan.

The field for four library board of trustees seats has five candidates. Jeffrey Kunz of Hollingsworth Avenue, Edith Weinberg of Windemere Circle, Annette McLaughlin of Tower Hill Road, Jessica Mary Voloudakis of Franklin Street, and Margaret Ann Morton of Allerton Commons Lane are on the ballot.

James Regan of Hobart Avenue and Thomas Reynolds of Regis Road are uncontested in the race for Braintree Electric Light Board, as are Braintree Housing Authority candidates Albion Fletcher Jr. of West Street and John Kerrigan of Academy Street.

The 2017 town election is Nov. 7.

Image: File Photo