West Warwick Town Sergeant John A. Pettinicchio Jr. files his declaration of Democratic candidacy for the School Committee with Joan Brazil, clerk of the Board of Canvassers.

The Providence Journal / Steve Szydlowski

WEST WARWICK — The replay of candidacy declarations for the School Committee was accomplished yesterday with no surprises. The seven who filed initially in June for the three seats on the ballot were the same seven who showed up at Town Hall yesterday.

Now, those candidates have until noon tomorrow to garner 50 signatures on their nominating papers.

The Board of Canvassers last week declared the June declarations null and void because none specified whether the candidate was seeking a two-year term or a four-year term — an understandable oversight, perhaps, given that board members generally serve only four-year terms.

But one of the three seats up for election in November is held by Democrat Bruce E. Vanasse, who was appointed last May to the seat from which Thomas V. Iannitti Jr. resigned only three months after being reelected. Because Vanasse was filling a term with more than two years to run, his seat had to be posted on the ballot for a two-year term.

Yesterday, Vanasse declared for a four-year term. So did Democrats James A. Williamson Jr., also an incumbent, and Vincent D. Bradley, Republican Lynn M. Ponte and independent Thomas Duffy. Declaring for the two-year term were Democrat John A. Pettinicchio Jr. and Republican Christopher Boucher.

With the declaration deadline stretched, there had been some speculation that others would join the original seven.

The do-over was agreed upon last Tuesday, when the Board of Canvassers met to review the declarations. Officials originally offered up a supplementary form that would allow candidates to declare which seat they preferred to run for, but some objected, saying it was unfair to add that information after the deadline had passed.

“After the canvassers board listened to everyone’s views, they felt that, in all fairness, it would be more beneficial if they did all of the School Committee candidates over,” said Joan Brazil, board clerk.

Pettinicchio, who is the town sergeant, was leaving Town Hall just minutes before the 4 p.m. deadline, one of the last candidates to file his declaration form. (All seven had to return at 7 p.m. to pick up nominating papers.)

Pettinicchio’s strategy was one that many of the candidates will probably copy. He still has the old nomination forms with signatures and addresses. Instead of finding new people, he said he’ll return to the original batch of supporters. But that still doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy.

“I’ll be doing a lot of walking,” he said.

tbuford@projo.com