Wilmington Selectman McCoy Enters Race For Miceli's Seat

WILMINGTON, MA -- Wilmington Selectman Michael McCoy entered the race to run for state representative representing Wilmington and Tewksbury. McCoy, who is the nephew of Rep. James Miceli (D-Wilmington), enters an already crowded field of candidates who have jumped into the race following Miceli's death on April 21. Also on Friday, former Wilmington Board of Selectmen Chair Judith O’Connell pulled nomination papers to run for the seat. Both are running as Democrats.

Earlier on Friday, Tewksbury resident and Shawsheen Valley Technical High School Committee Member Patricia M.W. Meuse took out nomination papers as an independent candidate in the race. Three separate sources have told Patch that Wilmington Town Moderator Robert Peterson Jr., who is running for reelection in Wilmington's Town Election on Saturday, is also planning to run. Peterson has yet to take out nomination papers and could not be reached for comment Friday.

A total of nine candidates have entered the race since Miceli died from a cardiac arrest suffered during last Saturday's opening ceremonies for Wilmington Little League. In addition to mcCoy, O'Connell and Meuse, Patch reported on Thursday that five Democrats and a Republican had taken the first step to enter the race. Democrats jumping into the race since Monday include Tewksbury Selectman Mark Kratman, Miceli's legislative aide David Robertson, Erika Johnson, a former Tewksbury Town Crier reporter who now works for the MassSaves energy efficiency program, and Tewksbury Board of Health member George Ferdinand, who said he dropped out of the race a day after taking out the papers with the Wilmington town clerk's office.

Republican Erin Buckley took out nomination papers from the Secretary of State's office and has already returned signatures for certification. Independent Noah Doucot had taken out papers before Miceli died.
As of Friday afternoon, only Buckley had returned completed nomination papers. Republican Pina Prinzivalli, of Tewksbury, announced her run in December and the only candidate listed on the ballot thus far. That means at the very least, the two women will square off ion a Republican primary in September.

McCoy has been one of the most outspoken members of the five-member Wilmington Board of Selectmen and has championed position of limited growth and development in Wilmington. He led opposition to a drug treatment facility that plans to open in Wilmington. More recently, he has led a push to opposed a proposed housing development on 76-acre parcel known as Schiarpra Farm in Wilmington.

Last year O'Connell announced she would not be running for reelection to the Wilmington Board of Selectmen. She served two, three-year terms on the board.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).