With one week left for potential candidates to take the first step toward running for office in the May 18 annual town election, the race for the select board has attracted the most attention, with five people considering running for the two available three-year terms.

Incumbents Jerry Taverna and Jason McCann could be challenged by Susan Short Green, Patricia Lynn Cormier, and Christopher Niland, who drew nomination papers on Wednesday. Green also took out papers to run against planning board member Jeanne Paquin for a five-year term.

The other potential candidate to launch a campaign this week was Mark L. Kohn, who will challenge incumbent light board members Patrick Cannon and Jacob Vaillancourt for one of the two three-year seats available on the light board.

The school committee also has two three-year terms available, with three candidates so far – current members Courtney Littlefield and Aleeza Hagerty and former member Ernest Minelli. Thu-Hang Tran is seeking one of the three-year terms on the library board, along with Amy Hyde and current member Celia Nolan.

The five-year seat on the redevelopment authority now held by Adrienne Paquin has attracted one candidate – C. Anne Murray, who had unsuccessfully sought appointment to an HRA vacancy last year. Charles Richardson, who was appointed to the seat then, is running to finish the three-year term, as is Valerio Romano, who, like Murray and Richardson, sought the appointment last fall. Murray drew nomination papers for both HRA seats and must decide which position to seek. Paquin has not yet indicated whether she will run for re-election.

Unopposed so far are housing authority member Anne-Margaret MacEachern and assessor Pamela Sinton-Coffman. Two other seats on the board of assessors – one for three years and the other for a one-year term – currently have no candidates. There are a total of 15 openings appearing on the ballot.

Drawing papers is the first step in the election process; prospective candidates now need to collect the signatures of at least 50 Hull registered voters. Some candidates may change their minds prior to the deadline for returning them (May 30), and two of those who are considering running for office have taken out papers for different offices; they must choose which office to seek.

The last day to take out nomination papers is Thursday, March 26 at 5 p.m.

Town Clerk Lori West recommends that potential candidates schedule an appointment to pick up the nomination papers and request checklist of upcoming deadlines and milestones in the process of running for office by emailing lwest@town.hull.ma.us or calling 781-773-3803. An online request form also is available at www.town.hull.ma.us/town-clerk.

The last day to register to vote in the May 18 annual town election is Friday, May 8.

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