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Voters gather at the Town House for the 2024 caucus. Photo: Celeste Katz Marston/The Concord Bridge

Town Caucus to set stage for April 8 elections

By Dakota Antelman — [email protected]

This year’s municipal election season will officially begin later this month when prospective candidates, their supporters, and interested voters gather for the 2025 Town Caucus. 

The caucus, slated for Monday, January 27, at 7 p.m. at the Town House, offers the chance to nominate candidates for Town Moderator, Select Board, and School Committee.

Once nominated, candidates will begin a roughly two-month sprint toward election day that will include at least two candidate forums. 

Town Caucus is “sort of an early preview of who people are,” said Nancy Confrey of the League of Women Voters of Concord-Carlisle. “It’s better than just seeing a name on a ballot.” 

Open positions

The Select Board has two openings this year as terms expire for Mary Hartman and Terri Ackerman. Hartman, the Select Board chairperson, announced her bid for re-election in a letter to the editor of The Concord Bridge.

Ackerman has said she does not plan to seek another term.

Beyond Hartman, 2229 Main Street Advisory Task Force chair Paul Boehm, MCI-Concord Advisory Board member Elizabeth Akehurst-Moore, and businessman Joe Laurin have also announced campaigns for Select Board seats. 

On the School Committee, Alexa Anderson and Cynthia Rainey have expiring terms this spring. Anderson has announced her candidacy for re-election.

Dr. Michael Williams, who had four children move through the Concord school system, has also announced his campaign for a committee seat, as has Thoreau School parent Sandeep Pisharody

Rainey told The Bridge she will not seek another term, saying she was “honored to have served the Town of Concord for six years.”

Town Moderator Carmin Reiss has served in her role since 2016. She recently announced her plans to seek a 10th one-year term, adding she expects that would be her final year in office. 

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The caucus convenes for nominations. Photo: Celeste Katz Marston/The Concord Bridge

Nomination protocols

Confrey said Town Caucus “shows early support.” 

“It gives an initial introduction to the people who have had the forethought about wanting to run,” she said. 

Candidates traditionally organize ahead of the caucus to have one person nominate them for their preferred position. People who nominate candidates generally deliver a speech explaining the nomination. Another person must second the candidate. 

All caucus participants must be registered Concord voters. 

Though there’s no rule prohibiting candidate speeches, candidates almost always leave the talking to their supporters. 

“It’s not a time to necessarily start putting your finger on the scale,” Confrey said. “It is more just ‘Is this person qualified? Who is this person?’ and then ‘Why are they qualified?’”

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Concord’s voting machines went through testing ahead of last April’s town election. Photo: Celeste Katz Marston/The Concord Bridge

Ballot access

Candidates who aren’t nominated at Town Caucus can still secure a spot on the ballot by getting signatures from at least 50 Concord voters. 

This year’s deadline to return signed nomination papers to the Town Clerk’s office is February 18 at 5 p.m. 

In an email, Town Clerk Kaari Mai Tari said officials recommend candidates get more than 50 signatures “in case there are any questions about voter eligibility or address.” 

Once the ballot is set, voters will have multiple opportunities to hear from candidates. 

Confrey said the League of Women Voters was working to finalize plans as of January 16 for a candidate forum in mid-March. Council on Aging director Dan Petitt said the COA is also planning a March candidate forum. 

Election day is April 8.

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