Wellesley School Committee candidates jump into election race

January 10, 2026

Five candidates have pulled papers to run for Wellesley School Committee’s two open seats as of the deadline to do so on Friday, Jan. 9. The School Department and School Committee are starting a year in which the school budget will be split from the town budget, educator contracts are being negotiated, and a slew of other challenges and opportunities await.

New to the School Committee race are Mary Eaton Crown, Costas Panagopoulos, and Robert Sullivan. They join earlier signers-on Michael Cave and Ayla Lari in seeking three-year terms. Panagopoulos, like Cave, was among a list of residents in 2024 who expressed interest in an interim seat that opened up after a committee member moved out of town (Sharon Clarke was eventually appointed to that seat).

Some candidates in the School Committee and other contests need to return their papers to the Town Clerk’s office for certification by Jan. 13.

The only other town-wide race on tap for the 2026 Election, slated for March 3, is for two Select Board seats. Incumbents Tom Ulfelder and Beth Sullivan Woods seek to retain their seats, while Planning Board Chair Marc Charney aims to challenge them.

The one other new candidate to file papers since our last check-in is Susan Eklund for a three-year Board of Health seat. Dr. Shira Doron’s term is expiring.

Full list of candidates who have pulled papers for town-wide elected positions.

New and incumbent candidates for Town Meeting seats still have a bit of time to pull papers/notify the clerk.

More: How to run for local office in Wellesley