There are nine candidates vying for five open seats on the Franklin School Board this year, and voters will be choosing among them in the City Election in October.
The five School Board seats that are up for election this year include one seat in Ward 1, three seats in Ward 2 and one seat in Ward 3.
In Ward 1, Marie Danforth and Jack Finley are running against each other for a three-year term. Incumbent Cecile Cormier, who has been on the board since 2020, is not seeking re-election to the School Board.
In Ward 2, Liz Cote and Peter McLaughlin are running against each other for a one-year term on the board. The seat was vacated by incumbent Dave Testerman, who is now running for a different school board seat.
Testerman, who was appointed to the board this year to fill a vacancy created by a member who resigned, is now running for a two-year Ward 2 seat, against incumbent Laurie Cass, who has been on the board since January. The seat is up for election this year because Cass was a runner-up in last year’s school board election as a write-in candidate with 11 votes, and took the position after the winner – another write-in candidate with 23 votes – declined to serve.
Desireé McLaughlin is running unopposed for the third Ward 2 seat, which is a three-year term. Incumbent Paul Doucette, who has been on the board since 2020, is not seeking re-election.
In Ward 3, challenger Robert “Roy” Hubble will be running against incumbent school board chair Tim Dow, who has been on the board since 2014.
Voters will cast their ballots on Franklin’s City Election Day Oct. 4. Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.