Selectmen Contest Down to Three

Retired Westborough firefighter Francis Sowa has withdrawn his candidacy for selectman.

Sowa said Monday night that Town Manager Jim Malloy informed him he would have to give up his job as the Westborough Senior Center's handyman if elected, per the town charter.

Sowa said he has held the federal grant-funded post for about seven years.

Three candidates now remain for the two three-year terms on the March 5 annual town ballot: incumbents Timothy Dodd and Leigh Emery, and Ruggles Street resident Stephen Faris.

Sowa said he would ask his supporters to support Dodd and Emery.

Selectman and a three-year term on the Westborough Housing Authority are the only contested positions on the ballot.

Whitney Street resident Jill Dupree and Smith Street resident William Linnane are running for the housing post. Incumbent Charles Naples is unopposed for a five-year term on the housing board. Incumbent Julie Pappazsis isn't seeking re-election.

The selectman and housing seats are among 10 positions on the ballot.

Unopposed for re-election are school committee members Stephen Doret and Bruce Tretter, library trustee Helena Engberg and planning board member Joanne Mallozzi.

Library trustees Karen Griegal and Geralyn Kohler will not seek re-election.

The top two write-in candidates receiving votes will be offered the seats, Town Clerk Nancy Yendriga has said.

The candidates need not accept, though, she said.

The trustees and the selectmen would fill each such vacancy by jointly appointing a resident to serve until the spring 2014 election, when the final two years of that term would be on the ballot, she said.