2023 Wayland Election: Everything To Know Before You Vote

WAYLAND, MA — Voters in Wayland will head to the polls Tuesday for the 2023 town election, which will feature three contested races for seats on the select board, school committee and board of assessors.

On top of the contested races, voters will also be selecting a new town moderator — Dennis Berry bowed out in February — and members of the boards of health and planning, library trustees and more.

The most hotly contested race this year will likely be for school committee. Four candidates are vying for two seats on the board with no incumbents in the race. Sitting members Chris Ryan and Jeanne Downs are not running for reelection. The two new members will be key in steering the district through the fallout from the ouster of Superintendent Omar Easy, and the search for a replacement.

The controversy over Easy's job status has bled over into other races, with one board of assessors candidates tied to a discrimination complaint filed by Easy after he was placed on leave in February.

The select board will also get at least one new face with longtime member Cherry Karlson not seeking reelection in 2023. The select board maneuvered the discharge of the former police chief in late 2022, and will likely be involved in the search for a replacement at some point.

Here's everything you need to know about who's running in 2023, and how to vote.

Where, when to vote

Polls will be open in Wayland from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday. The town will offer two polling places, depending on your precinct.

• Wayland Town Building gym: precincts 1 and 4
• Wayland Middle School: Precincts 2 and 3

Voting by mail

If you've opted to vote by mail this year, ballots are due back to the town by 8 p.m. on Election Day. It's likely too late to actually mail your ballot, so your safest bet is to hand it in at the clerk's office.

Who's on the ballot

Here's a list of the candidates running in 2023. Wayland Patch sent each candidate running in a contested race a questionnaire. Click the links on the names to read those.

Select Board (2 seats, 3-year term)

• Dave Watkins (i)
• Anne Brensley
• William Whitney

School Committee (2 seats, 3-year term)

• Craig Gruber
• Dovie King
• Erin Mueller
• Christina Rodrigo

Board of Assessors (2 seats, 3-year term)

• Philip David Parks (i)
• Massimo Taurisano (i)
• Maryann Wohlfarth

Board of Health (2 seats, 3-year term)

• Robert Eyre (i)
• Jonathan Storer

Board of Library Trustees (2 seats, 3-year term)

• Aida Gennis (i)
• Leah Hart (i)

Board of Public Works (one seat, 3-year term)

• George Uveges (i)

Board of Public Works (one seat, 2-year term due to vacancy)

• Tsung Ting Chiang (i)

Moderator (1 seat, 3-year term)

• Miranda Jones

Planning Board (1 seat, 5-year term)

• Albert Montague Jr. (i)

Planning Board (1 seat, 1-year term due to vacancy)

• Prashant Shukla

Recreation Commission (1 seat, 3-year term)

• Mark Norton

Trust Fund Commission (1 seat, 3-year term)

• No candidate