Extra: Election
Candidates pass first test: Gathering signatures
01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, July 16, 2008
EXETER — The results are in: Nomination signatures have been collected by all the Town Council and School Committee candidates who announced they were running for office.
Five Democrats are among the six candidates for the Town Council’s five positions. The four incumbents are Democrats Calvin A. Ellis, Kenneth L. Fernstrom, Robert E. Johnson Jr. and William P. Monahan. Arlene B. Hicks is the Democratic newcomer, and Michael J. Picillo is the Republican challenger. Each had to gather the signatures of 50 registered voters.
Two Exeter seats are open on the Exeter-West Greenwich School Committee, and two Republicans are running: Paul R. McFadden and William F. Munroe. Valerie J. Zuercher is running as a Democrat and Mark G. Rafanelli as an independent.
The town treasurer’s race is contested, with Richard D. Walker running as a Democrat without his party’s endorsement, challenged by Republican Edward F. Nataly Jr.
Exeter will still have a primary Sept. 9, said Canvassers Clerk Janet Cragan, but no town races will be on that ballot. Two Republicans and four Democrats are seeking to replace Joseph H. Scott in House District 39, which includes Exeter, so there will be a primary for that race.
The deadline for canvassers to certify nomination signatures is tomorrow. It is more complicated to qualify candidates for General Assembly races than for town races because any voter in the district can sign nomination papers, but each town’s canvassers can certify only the voters from that town. Qualifying signatures from each town are then added to determine whether enough have been collected.
More election stories
Polling places open Tuesday at 7 or 8 a.m.
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