AMHERST — Legislation that will allow Amherst’s first town council elections to coincide with the state election calendar will be the subject of a hearing at the Statehouse in Boston next week.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman said May 22 that a hearing on the bill, also known as “an act authorizing the city known as the town of Amherst to hold a special election on Nov. 6, 2018,” is scheduled for May 30 before the Joint Committee on Election Laws.
“The Select Board will be represented to explain what voters at election and Town Meeting members voted to do,” Bockelman said.
The bill was jointly filed by state Rep. Solomon Goldstein-Rose and former Sen. Stanley Rosenberg. Bockelman said it is uncertain how soon the legislation will be enacted, noting that the Legislature has its own pace.
If the Legislature acts in the town’s favor, the 13-member council would be elected Nov. 6 and seated Dec. 3. A primary would be held Sept. 4, which will be required if there are more than twice as many candidates as slots available, both for the three at-large councilor positions and the two positions in each of five districts.
The only person who has turned in papers is current Select Board member Alisa Brewer, who is seeking an at-large position. Others who have taken out papers for the townwide seats include J. Lynn Griesemer, 83 Flat Hills Road, who has also pulled papers for District 2; Mandi Jo Hanneke, 52 Orchard St., who has also pulled papers for District 4; Aaron Hayden, 1491 South East St.; Niels P. la Cour, 24 North Whitney St., who has also pulled papers for District 4; Victor Nunez-Ortiz, 5 Blackberry Lane; Cathy Schoen, 519 Montague Road, who has also pulled papers for District 1; and current Select Board member Andrew Steinberg.
Others who have obtained papers include Sharon Povinelli, 493 Montague Road, for District 1; Peter Vickery, 71 Cherry Lane, for District 2; David G. Reffsin, 117 North Whitney St.; Stephen D. Schreiber, 100 High St.; James Roche, 22 Lessey St, for District 4; and Theodore Parker, 26 Woodlot Road, for District 5. No one has yet gotten nomination forms for District 3.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
