A handful more candidates for Wellesley town-wide office have pulled their nomination papers from Town Hall over the past week.

The last day to pull papers is Jan. 9, and Town Election is March 3, 2026.

During our first check-in the week before, three Select Board candidates—Marc Charney, Beth Sullivan Woods, and Tom Ulfelder— had pulled papers. As of this past Thursday, Woods and Ulfelder had their nomination signatures certified.

So far, 14 people have pulled papers for open town-wide seats. The latest candidates to pull papers:

• Melinda Arias-Voci for Natural Resources Commission
• Incumbent Odessa Sanchez for Housing Authority 
• Incumbent Jeffrey P. Wechsler for Board of Public Works (3-year term)

More: How to run for local office in Wellesley

• Guidelines for submitting a Letter to the Editor
• Learn about advertising on Swellesley

Nominees for Wellesley town-wide and Town Meeting seats have begun to pull papers at town hall, and more candidates have until next month to do so. So far, mostly incumbents have declared their intention to run for town-wide offices.

The big news so far is that there will be a contested race for two Select Board seats. Incumbents Tom Ulfelder and Beth Sullivan Woods, whose terms expire in March, both seek another term. Also competing for one of the two open seats is Marc Charney, currently chair of the Planning Board.

Both Ulfelder and Woods have served three 3-year terms.

School Committee has two 3-year seats available, with the Christina Horner’s 3-year term and Sharon Clarke’s 1-year term expiring in March. So far the one candidate who has pulled papers is Michael Cave, who had expressed interest in serving in 2024 when an interim seat opened.

We understand that some incumbents plan to pull papers for open town-wide seats and just haven’t done so yet. No one has yet pulled papers for key bodies such as the Planning Board and Natural Resources Commission.

Note that those who have pulled papers have until Jan. 13 to return them (in other words, just because a candidate has pulled papers doesn’t mean that they will go through with running).

Others who have pulled papers:

• Incumbent Stephen Burtt, for Board of Assessors
• Incumbent Janice Coduri for 2-year Housing Authority term
• Incumbents Maria Gallo Ashbrook and Aunoy Banerjee, each of whom earlier this year were approved to fill vacant positions until the upcoming election.
• Incumbent moderator Mark Kaplan
• Michael McManus for Board of Public Works for a 2-year term (he was appointed earlier this year to fill a vacant slot)
• Incumbent Ansley Martin for a 3-year Recreation Commission seat

The Town Clerk has begun posting the list of those who have pulled papers online, and will update it at least once a week on Fridays (possibly more frequently if there is a lot of activity). If you are curious about nominees in between Fridays you can go to Town Hall and look at the latest list on paper.

Anyone who was appointed to temporarily fill a seat will not have the listing “Candidate for Re-Election” next to their name on the ballot, as they were not elected.

The Town Election is March 3, 2026.

More: How to run for local office in Wellesley

• Guidelines for submitting a Letter to the Editor
• Learn about advertising on Swellesley

The League of Women Voters of Wellesley this week hosted their “How to Run for Local Office” forum at Town Hall. In case you missed the live version, you can watch a recording courtesy of Wellesley Media.

Current and former elected officials were on hand to explain the process and answer questions.

Nomination papers became available this week at the Town Clerk’s Office: You must go to Town Hall in person to get them. Papers for town-wide offices must be pulled by Jan. 9 and Town Meeting member papers must be pulled by Jan. 23. More information on requirements can be found on the town website.

The Town Election is March 3, 2026.

Town-wide and Town Meeting seats up for grabs: