As voting season for Londonderry’s elected officials draws closer, the town and school board have established their finalized list of candidates for their currently available positions.
One three year position on the Town Council is available. As the town’s legislative and governing body, members of the council hold a wide variety of responsibilities, including discussing and voting on a variety of resolutions for the town, listening to concerns from residents during public forums and working closely with town staff to determine the state of their numerous departments and their roles, just to name a few roles. Jim Butler, the individual whose term is expiring this year, will be running for the role again unchallenged.
A three year position for the role of Town Clerk is also available. As a Town Clerk, the appointee is required to validate official documents and oversee the posting of official notices, ordinances and advertisements, as well as supervise the issuance of marriage, hunting, fishing and dog licenses. They must also manage tax payments, sewer payments vehicle licenses and plan and supervise the conduct of all elections. Sherry Farrell, Londonderry’s current Town Clerk, will be running up against new candidate Martha Liff-Smith.
A two year position as Town Moderator is available. The moderator is chiefly responsible for the election process, filing a certification of election with Town Clerk to indicate the number of votes received by each candidate. Tom Freda and Luisa Piette will be the two candidates for the position, as Bob Saur will not be seeking reelection.
One six year term as Supervisor of the Checklist is available. In this role, the supervisor is tasked with determining if a resident is legally qualified to vote and updating the checklist of registered voters if so. The supervisor must also make changes and corrections to a voter’s name, address and party affiliation when applicable, as well as remove voters no longer eligible to vote in Londonderry. Kirsten Hildonen will be running for the position unopposed.
Two three year terms on the Budget Committee are available. The role of members of this committee is to advise the Town Council, the School Board and the Town of Londonderry on matters related to their budgets, host regular meetings on the fourth Thursday of each month at 7 PM and participate in several budget workshops with the town and school during the annual budget process. Kirsten Hildonen, who is currently a member of the committee, will be running for reelection, while Kyle Ramon Foden will be running for a second position being left by member Duncan Campbell.
Three trustee positions are available. As a trustee, one’s duty is to direct the funds and policies of the area that said position is identified with, preserving capital and other functions as they see fit. Amongst the three positions are two three year terms as Library Trustees being run for by Betsy McKinney and Carol Introne and one three year term as Trustee of the Trust Fund, with Howard Bookman running unopposed.
Finally, two three year terms on the Londonderry School Board are available. The school boards roles include overseeing all aspects of the school, its staff and policy framework and strategies. While Steve Young will be running to continue his role on the board, board member Leitha Reilly will not be seeking reelection, leaving Katlyn McKenzie, Michael Saucier, Jeff Katz and Greg DePasse to run as candidates for the two openings.
Voting will take place from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on March 13 at the Londonderry High School Gymnasium.