Wayland's 2024 Election May Be Historic For Lack Of Contested Races

WAYLAND, MA — How long has it been since Wayland has had a spring election with zero contested races? John F. Kennedy was still years away from being elected president.

The League of Women Voters of Wayland this week said it will hold a meet-and-greet with candidates before the May 7 election. This is the first election year in about 74 years that the league has not held a formal candidates' night due to the lack of contested races.

In 2024, 19 people are running for seats on the select board, school committee, planning board and nine other boards and commissions. Although none of the races are contested, there will be a huge amount of turnover in this year's election: only eight incumbents are on the ballot (and that's including one candidate who's running after being appointed to the Trust Fund Commission).

Some of the new faces joining town government include: select board candidate Doug Levine, school committee candidates Kate Sambuco and Liz Cullen, Board of Health candidate Brett Mordas, Board of Assessors candidate Doug McNeilly, library trustees candidates Candace Hetzner and Emily Weintraub, Recreation Commission candidate Lesley Stewart, Board of Public Works candidates Judy Ling and Michael Spelman, and Planning Board candidates Robin Borgestedt and Phyllis Dininio.

So even though they're all guaranteed to win, it's worth getting to know who's going to help run the town over the next few years. In addition to the LWV's candidates' meet-and-greet, the league has also published a 2024 voters' guide. The in-person event will begin on May 5 at 3 p.m. at the Wayland Public Library.