by Worth Robbins ·
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
In doubt since Town Caucus, contests for Board of Selectmen and Planning Board seats were finally set Tuesday afternoon at 5 p.m. when the time for nominations expired.
Barely five minutes before deadline, at 4:55 p.m., Leo Blair, who in 2009 resigned mid-term after less than 18 months in his first term as selectman, arrived at Town Hall with enough signatures to be entered on the ballot, joining caucus nominees Don Graham and Stu Sklar in a three-way race for two three-year seats. Incumbents Tim Clark and Bill Johnson did not sign their nomination papers and will not be on the ballot.
In the race for a three-year seat on the Planning Board, caucus nominee Kara Minar will be opposed by Chris Ashley, who had submitted nomination signatures the previous week. Caucus nominee and incumbent Rich Marcello did not sign his nomination papers and will not be on the ballot.
In the race for a one-year seat on the Planning Board, vacated when Michelle Catalina resigned in December, caucus nominee Jim Breslauer will be challenged by Bill Johnson, who brought in nomination papers.
Joe Schmidt obtained nomination signatures for the three-year Parks and Recreation Commission seat and will run unopposed. The two-year Parks and Rec seat is the only position that will be without a candidate on the ballot.
All other caucus nominees signed their nomination papers and will run unopposed for the remaining openings, as previously reported.
According to Town Clerk Janet Vellante, candidates have until 4 p.m. Thursday, March 28, if they want their names removed from the ballot.
Clark wrote to the Press that after having served the town "in one position or another" for 13 years, he had decided to pursue "more fulfulling community-building efforts that lie at the edge...of politics," in particular his website "Eye on Harvard."
"It has been my honor to serve the public interests over those years," he said.
In a letter explaining his decision to pursue a seat on the Planning Board, Johnson wrote that it was his "firm conviction" that "public service is not about the office you hold, but the work you undertake on behalf of the town." He said he had always been attracted to "the tough problems in town that seem to defy solution. I believe I can personally do greater service for the town by switching my time and energy to where it can matter the most."
For Marcello, the precipitating event behind his decision not to serve another term on the Planning Board is the publication of his first novel this summer.
"I've made a substantial time commitment to support the book around the country," he wrote the Press in an email. "I don't believe I can do a good job of supporting the book and fully participate on the Planning Board, so I decided not to run."
"I am proud of the work the board did over the last year," Marcello wrote, "especially our work to support the Solar Garden."
Continuing the tradition begun in 2007, the Harvard Press and the League of Women Voters of Harvard will co-host a candidates' debate on Thursday, April 11, at 7 p.m. in Volunteers Hall. Questions for Board of Selectmen and Planning Board candidates can be emailed to debate@harvardpress.com.