Eleven candidates – including six incumbents – were among the first to obtain nomination papers for the 15 positions available in the May 18 annual town election.

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 in order to qualify for the ballot. 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.

As of the Times’ print deadline on Wednesday, select board members Jerry Taverna and Jason McCann will be challenged by Susan Short Green and Patricia Lynn Cormier. Green also took out papers to run against incumbent planning board member Jeanne Paquin for a five-year term.

C. Anne Murray, who unsuccessfully applied for a vacancy on the Hull Redevelopment Authority last year, will either challenge the person who won the appointment – Charles Richardson, Jr. – for a three-year term, or will seek a full five-year term. That seat is currently occupied by Adrienne Paquin, who has not yet indicated whether she will seek re-election.

Incumbent light board members Patrick Cannon and Jacob Vaillancourt are so far unopposed for re-election to their three-year seats. Amy Hyde is the only candidate for one of the two three-year terms on the board of library trustees now held by Celia Nolan and Duncan Stone, neither of whom has taken out nomination papers.

Not yet attracting candidates are three seats on the board of assessors (three-year terms of Mario Grieco and Pamela Sinton-Coffman, as well as the one-year unexpired term previously held by Rochelle Terranova, who was appointed in July after the resignation of Michael Waldner), two three-year seats on the school committee (Courtney Littlefield and Aleeza Hagerty, who was appointed after the resignation of Regan Yakubian); and a five-year term on the housing authority (Anne-Margaret Gould MacEachern).

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. A online request form also is available at www.town.hull.ma.us/town-clerk.

The last day to register to vote in the May 19 annual town election is Friday, May 8.

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