BURRILLVILLE – Burrillville residents are on track to have plenty of choices for who they would like to see seated on the Town Council for the next four years.
Twelve candidates declared their intent to run this week for four open seats on the board. If they all return their nomination papers with the required number of signatures, both Democrats and Republicans would hold a primary in September to narrow the field of candidates.
Among the group are both new and old faces in local politics. Only three of the incumbents whose four year terms are set to expire will seek reelection.
Councilor David Place will instead run for the District 47 seat in the House of Representatives. That seat, representing Burrillville and Glocester, is currently held by Democrat Rep. Cale Keable, who declared his intent to seek reelection Monday.
Place is one of two councilors to declare their intent to instead seek out roles in state government.
Town Council President John Pacheco pulled papers to run as a Republican for the Senate District 23 seat representing Glocester, Burrillville and a portion of North Smithfield.
The seat has been held for the past two decades by Sen. Paul Fogarty, who is retiring. Democrat Paul Roselli, president of the Burrillville Land Trust, dropped out of the race for Governor last week, declaring his intent to instead run for the seat, and former Burrillville Town Councilor and Municipal Court Judge Kevin Heitke, another Burrillville Democrat, also hopes to represent District 23.
Pacheco, who has served on the council since 2012, has served as president since 2014, and is two years into his second term.
“If he were to win the Senate seat he would have to resign the council seat,” explained Town Clerk Louise Phaneuf.
In that case, Phaneuf noted that the fifth highest vote getter in the November election –who did not secure one of the four open spots – would take Pacheco’s seat.
The town will not need to hold a primary, however, to narrow the field of candidates for the School Committee. On that board, four newcomers hope to unseat three incumbents seeking reelection. Member Joshua Tessier did not declare his intent to seek reelection prior to the deadline for filing on Wednesday, June 27.
The field of seven candidates comes up two short of the nine required to trigger a primary for the non-partisan board.
Because the Town Council is partisan, if there are more candidates in one party than seats that are open, there will be a primary. The two Town Council candidates who are unaffiliated will automatically move on to the November ballot.
The following is a complete list of candidates who have declared their intent to appear on the election ballot in Burrillville. Candidates must still submit their nomination papers and have until July 17 to withdraw their candidacy.
Donison Allen, 451 Latham Farm Road, Republican, School Committee
Dennis Anderson, 593 Whipple Road, Republican, Town Council
Justin Batalon, 58 Fox Run Dr,, Republican, Town Council
Victor Bevilacqua Jr., 204 Jefferson Road, Republican, School Committee
Darcy Bouchard, 290 Town Farm Road, Unaffiliated, School Committee
Sean Bouzan, 352 Gazza Road, Republican, School Committee
Scott Anthony Cardon, 140 Spring Lake Road, Democrat, Town Council
Donald Fox, 840 Tarklin Road, Republican, Town Council
Amanda Gingell, 45 Maple Dr., Democrat, Town Council
Kevin Heitke, 165 Lapham Farm Road, Democrat, State Senator, District 23
Russell Jennings, 330 Eagle Peak Road, Democrat, State Representative, District 47
Cale Keable, 515 Camp Dixie Road, Democrat, State Representative, District 47
Terri Lacey, 105 Town Farm Road, Unaffiliated, School Committee
Michael Lamoureux, 608 Camp Dixie Road, Democrat, Town Council
Alexandria Leclair, 855 Black Hut Road, Unaffiliated, School Committee
Cynthia Lussier, 150 Old Wallum Lake Road, Democrat, Town Council
John Pacheco III, 901 Colwell Road, Republican, State Senator, District 23
David Place, 167 Jefferson Road, Republican, State Representative, District 47
Stephen Rawson, 695 Cherry Farm Road, Republican, Town Council
Paul Roselli, 665 Maureen Circle, Democrat, State Senator District 23
John Anthony Scott, 1015 Wallum Lake Road, Unaffiliated, Town Council
Marc St. Pierre, 130 Maple Dr., Democrat, Town Council
Silvia St. Pierre, 130 Maple Drive, Democrat, School Committee
Robert Woods, 300 Olney Keach Road, Republican, Town Council
Matthew Zanni, 215 Sherman Farm Road, Unaffiliated, Town Council
NRI NOW is offering all local candidates the opportunity to announce their campaigns and platforms. Interested candidates should contact [email protected].
