Based on early returns, the preliminary ballot for the Nov. 5 election in #MiddletownRI is a healthy mix of incumbents and newcomers. Read below for more about who filed by today's 4 pm deadline and what's next.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Matt Sheley at (401) 842-6543 or msheley@middletownri.com
NOVEMBER BALLOT COMING TOGETHER
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (JUNE 26, 2024) – It looks like it’s going to be a busy election season in Middletown.
By the 4 p.m. deadline today, 11 candidates filed papers to run for Town Council, with another two seeking seats on the School Committee unopposed.
For council, those included incumbent President Paul M. Rodrigues, Vice President Thomas P. Welch III, Peter D. Connerton Sr., Christopher Logan, Dennis B. Turano and Barbara A. VonVillas as well as Leonidas Amarant, Lawrence Frank, Bryan Hoffman, Charles R. Roberts and Antone C. Viveiros.
For school board, incumbent Vice Chair Tami Holden submitted her name along with William Nash, leaving them unopposed for those two seats.
Town Clerk Wendy J.W. Marshall said election workers were still needed. To learn more, contact Marshall at wmarshall@middletownri.com, call 842-6500, ext. 1060 or drop by the clerk’s office during normal business hours.
“Getting involved in an election is one of the truest forms of democracy,” Marshall said. “We take this responsibility very seriously and always welcome more involvement in the process.”
Although it’s four plus months until Nov. 5, the council approved a request to ask voters whether to change the Town Charter to reinstitute partisan elections.
This means Middletown voters will have at least one local question to consider in addition to the national Presidential election, state races and the Town Council and School Committee seats.
Marshall said the drop dead date for items to be submitted to the state for inclusion on the ballot is Aug. 7.
However, Marshall reminded everyone there’s a process through the council for items to go before voters, it’s one that can take weeks to satisfy.
According to an Election 2024 calendar from the office of Secretary of State Gregg Amore, all candidates for Middletown Town Council and School Committee must have filed their declaration papers between June 24-26 with Marshall’s office.
That’s the first true deadline for those looking to run for one of the seven open seats on the council and two spots on the five-member school board.
Unlike the council which opens every seat every election, the four-year terms on the School Committee are staggered. The seats held by Holden and board member William O’Connell are in play for Middletown Election 2024.
For information about running for office in Middletown, visit https://mdl.town/Candidates2024 online.
Based on early returns, it does not appear that local voters will be asked to support any Middletown bond initiatives for Election 2024. While that might change, it would be up to the council to make those decisions during a public review process.
“Running a fair, smooth election is one of the most important things we can do as a community,” Marshall said. “A lot of work goes into the process from start to finish and it’s critical we get every step right along the way.”
Document Link: https://mdl.town/Deadline-24