Town Government 101: Town Caucus

Editor’s note: This article is an installment of “Town Government 101,” a series of stories explaining how municipal government works. Have a question about how Weston operates? Email us at [email protected].

In Weston, election season starts in full with the Town Caucus, a gathering at Town Hall where residents choose who will be on the annual town election ballot.

This year’s Town Caucus is Monday, March 9.

Town Clerk Janet Murphy said she hopes Town Caucus turnout will be higher than usual this year because of increased interest due to the Select Board expansion.

“Everybody thinks this year is going to be a different situation, but we’re just going to have to wait and see,” Murphy said.

This year, there are 19 open positions on the ballot, including three seats on the Select Board, one on the School Committee and one on the Planning Board.

Election day is May 2.

At the caucus, Westonians are able to nominate themselves and others for candidacy. Murphy said it is most common for people to be nominated by others.

“Typically, people come on your behalf to nominate you. We ask the nominator to come and speak, how you know the person and why you think they would be a good fit,” she said. “It’s not required, but we hope that’s how it’s going to go.”

Residents can nominate up to two candidates per seat. If there are more than double the candidates than there are positions, the question will go to a paper ballot. For example, if seven people are nominated for the three Select Board seats, a paper ballot will be taken during the caucus.

Murphy said that going to a paper ballot is unlikely. In her four years in Weston, she has not seen it. Candidates in Weston often run uncontested or there are not enough people to fill all the positions. Last year’s ballot was uncontested.

“From an election point of view, that’s like kissing your sister,” Murphy said.

There is still a chance to run for office after the Town Caucus. Residents can pull nomination papers from the Town Clerk’s office and gather 50 signatures to be added to the ballot by March 27. According to Murphy, that is not the norm in Weston. The majority of candidates come from the Town Caucus.

Although the Caucus is open to any registered voter in town, Murphy said turnout has been low in her four year tenure as Town Clerk. Around 60 residents attend each year to decide who will be on the ballot. Murphy said while the Select Board expansion may create more interest, there is no way to gauge the level of participation ahead of time.

“This is a way to really participate in town government,” Murphy said. “I don’t know if that will drive people by the masses, but you’re deciding who to put on the ballot for who is going to run the town for the next three years.”

Town Caucus is March 9 at 7 p.m. in the Sears Auditorium in Town Hall.