No shortage of candidates for Town Council

MERRIMACK – The race for town council will be a bit crowded this year, with twice as many candidates as there are open seats. Before the filing period closed Friday, all three incumbent councilors had filed to reclaim their spots: Chairman Tom Mahon, Mike Malzone and David Yakuboff Sr, whom the council appointed in September to fill out the term of resigning member Betty Spence.

Those three will have to fend off four additional candidates for the three-year council terms: Daniel Dwyer, Tom Koenig, Thomas A. Lynam and Michael Turcotte.

Koenig is a current member of town’s planning board and is a former selectman. Dwyer, a council candidate in the last two elections, has come up short both times.

In addition, Merrimack School Board incumbents Jennifer Thornton and Jody Vaillancourt are seeking re-election for their seats, and a third candidate, Shannon Barnes, has made it a race. Barnes ran last year, but was edged out by Roy Swonger.

Town Meeting ‘09

Other filings for town and school offices:

Ethics committee, two seats: Michelle A. Gosselin and incumbent Robert N. Kelley. Current member Andrew Sylvia is not seeking re-election.

Trustee of trust funds, one seat: Incumbent John E. Lyons and David T. Rutzke. Richard Barry had filed, but withdrew.

Library trustee, two seats: Incumbent Robert N. Kelley, John D. MacLeod and incumbent Barbara Tucker.

Town clerk/tax collector, one seat: David McCray and incumbent Diane Trippett.

Treasurer, one seat: Incumbent Linda B. Wilson

School planning and building committee, two seats: Incumbent Richard Hendricks and William “Davis” Powell

School budget committee, four seats: incumbent William J. “Bill” Cummings, Michael McGarry, incumbent “Andy” Schneider, incumbent Chip Underhill and Michael Beck.

Election day is April 14.