2 chances to meet Wellesley’s town-wide office candidates

February 1, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

You have 2 upcoming chances to meet Wellesley’s town-wide office candidates for the Annual Town Election on Tuesday, March 7:

Sustainable Wellesley’s Conversation With The Candidates: Monday, Feb. 13

Sustainable Wellesley is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that focuses on climate and other issues related to protecting the environment.

It will be holding a Conversation with the Candidates on Monday, Feb. 13 from 7-9pm at the Wakelin Room at the Wellesley Free Library. Come hear where candidates stand on issues related to sustainability.

The League of Women Voters of Wellesley’s Meet the Candidates Night: Thursday, Feb. 16

The League of Women Voters of Wellesley’s Meet the Candidates Night will be held virtually on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7pm. Learn about candidates for town-wide office and hear their positions on issues of importance to the town. The event will be live-streamed, broadcast live on Comcast 8/Verizon 40, and will be recorded for on-demand viewing.

The League is a nonpartisan political organization which does not support or oppose candidates.

Voters are invited to submit questions for candidates by email: lwvwellesley2@gmail.com by 5 pm on Feb. 15. Questions will be screened for lack of bias, relevance, and applicability to all candidates for each office. Similar questions may be consolidated.

There will be no print version of the League’s Election Guide this year. The Guide will be posted by February 16 to the League’s Election Guide platform, vote411.org, where voters can also find personalized election information on how and where to vote. Information about The Meet the Candidates Night event, the Election Guide and other election-related material may be viewed on the League’s website, and on the Town Clerk’s website.

Separately, League of Women Voters of Wellesley members Skye Jacobs (Wellesley High ’24, Town Meeting member) and Ivy Wang (Wellesley High ’24, Town Meeting member) organized a voter registration event at Wellesley High School. Two of the first-time voters will be turning 18 only a few days before the election.

One student said, “I’m too young to vote but my parents rely on me to research the candidates for them.”

students registration — Skye Jacobs (left, standing), Ivy Wang (right, standing). Seated in background: Volunteers Amelia Cookson and Katie Passanisi. Foreground: 2 students registering to vote. (Photo courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Wellesley)

Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Wellesley town-wide office candidates for 2023 election

January 18, 2023 by Deborah Brown

Candidates seeking town-wide office in Wellesley had until Jan. 17 to collect 50 signatures in support of their candidacy and turn in their nomination papers to the Town Clerk. Below is the list of those willing to contribute their time and talents to the town’s local government.

A few things to note… the order in the table below is based on when candidates pulled nomination papers. The ballot order will be determined by a random drawing on Feb. 1. And yes, there will be no candidates on the ballot for Recreation Commission.

Voters will have a handful of contested races to mull, including Select Board, School Committee, and Natural Resources Commission.

Forgot to turn in your nomination papers but still want to run for town-wide office? A pathway is still open. Residents interested in being write-in candidates are encouraged to declare their intent with the Town Clerk prior to the March 7, 2023 election.

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Wellesley 2022 State Primary election results

September 7, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Unofficial results from the Massachusetts State Primary election shared by Wellesley’s Town Clerk show that Wellesley’s voting results were largely consistent with those across the state, though not in the Republican primaries for governor and Lt. governor.

Although Chris Doughty bested Geoff Diehl in all Wellesley precincts, Diehl carried the state, and will run for governor in the upcoming Nov. 8 general election vs. Democrat Maura Healey, whose opponent Sonia Chang-Diaz stopped campaigning months ago.

Republican Lt. governor candidate Kate Campanale topped Leah Allen across all Wellesley precincts, but Allen took the state, and faces Democrat Kimberley Driscoll in November.

Democrat Andrea Campbell won the Attorney General primary in Wellesley and the state, and will face Republican Jay McMahon in November.

Incumbents Alice Hanlon Peisch and Cynthia Stone Creem ran unopposed for state representative and senate seats, respectively.

Download (PDF, 214KB)

Coffee with Congressman Auchincloss on August 16th

August 15, 2022 by admin Leave a Comment

Have coffee and chat with Congressman Jake Auchincloss in Wellesley on Tuesday, August 16, 10am-11am.

Auchincloss represents Wellesley in the Fourth Congressional District. He and his staff are holding series of local gatherings with residents to share information and answer questions.

The coffee hour is free and open to all. Advance sign up is required using this form. The Congressman’s office will send a confirmation email to all attendees with the name and address of the event location, just before the event.

For questions, please contact Congressman Auchincloss’s office at 617-332-3333.

Auchincloss most recently visited Wellesley earlier this month, when he attended a short walking tour of Wellesley Square to learn about the changing landscape and challenges of the “downtown” shopping district.

Congressman Jake Auchincloss, Wellesley — London Harness was one of the stops along a recent walking tour of Wellesley Square. From left, Charles River Charles River Regional Chamber president Greg Reibman; Congressman Jake Auchincloss; and Demian Wendrow, owner of London Harness and president of the Wellesley Square Merchants’ Association.

Town of Wellesley round-up: election 2022, updated voting info, census, dog licenses

January 5, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Town of Wellesley updates:

Nomination Papers for March 1, 2022 town-wide election

The deadline to obtain nomination papers for Town Wide office is Friday, January 7, 2022, at 5pm. Signatures of fifty voters registered in the Town are required (any precinct). Papers must be returned to the Town Clerk for certification no later than Tuesday January 11, 2022, at 5pm.

The deadline to obtain nomination papers for Town Meeting Member is Friday, January 21, 2022, at 5 p.m. Ten signatures of registered voters from the precinct are required. The nomination papers must be returned to the Town Clerk’s Office for certification no later than Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at 5pm.

Offices for the March 1, 2022 Town Election are:

Call the Town Clerk’s office for additional information (781-431-1019 ext 2252).

Update on voting by mail

At this time, Vote by Mail (no excuses) is no longer available.

Absentee ballots continue to be available. To qualify for an absentee ballot, you must:

Be away from Wellesley on Election Day; or
Have a disability that keeps you from voting at your polling place; or
Have a religious belief that prevents you from voting at your polling place on Election day; or
Are taking precautions relating to COVID-19 considered to be a physical disability.

If eligible for a by-mail absentee ballot, request one using the Absentee Ballot Application.

Annual Town Census

All residential addresses should have received the 2022 Annual Town Census. All households are required to return the census document as soon as possible, even if no changes are necessary.

Dog licensing

The Town Clerk’s office is reminding pet owners to renew annual dog licenses.

Renew your dog license through the online Viewpoint Cloud system. You will receive an email with a direct link from noreply@viewpointcloud.com

Paper renewal applications may be returned to Town Hall by mail or dropped off in the Town Hall payments drop box off (on the Washington Street side). Please include a self addressed stamped envelope.

Due to COVID-19, there are no walk-in dog license registrations. Licenses must be renewed annually from January 1st though March 31st to avoid a fine. Each dog requires a separate application. Contact the Town Clerk’s office with questions.

Wellesley Select Board office hours, Oct. 19

October 15, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

Wellesley Select Board chair Tom Ulfelder will host office hours with the public on Tuesday, October 19, 1pm- 2:30pm, via Zoom. Ask questions, give input, and share concerns about Town operations, economic development, or other issues.

Please email him directly at tulfelder@wellesleyma.gov to request a 15-minute appointment.

You will receive a response confirming your meeting time and the Zoom link.

Wellesley Select Board office hours, August 17th

August 15, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

Wellesley Select Board member Ann-Mara Lanza will host office hours on Tuesday, August 17, 11:30am-1pm in the Juliani Room at Town Hall, 525 Washington Street.

Lanza will be available for in-person meetings during the first hour and will hold Zoom meetings from 12:30pm to 1pm.

Ask questions, give input, and share concerns about Town operations, economic development, or other issues.

Please email her directly at amlanza@wellesleyma.gov and indicate if you would like an in-person meeting or a Zoom appointment. You will receive a response confirming your meeting and the Zoom link, if required.

Please note: if you are not vaccinated, you are encouraged to wear a mask when inside Town Hall.