In a letter to the Select Board, State Representative James Arena-DeRosa sought to clarify the process for Hopkinton’s elections for this May. The letter was prompted by feedback his office has received regarding the role political parties can play in the election given the passage of Article 2 at the Special Town Meeting in November, which eliminated caucusing. Hopkinton is one of only 13 towns in the Commonwealth that still allow political parties to nominate candidates for local elections.
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Arena-DeRosa wrote the letter to members of the Select Board, and copied Town Clerk Connor Degan, whose office supervises Hopkinton’s elections. He also included Democratic Town Committee Chair Amy Groves and Republican Town Committee Chair Jim Mirable.
Dear Hopkinton Town Leaders and Party Chairs:
I wanted to take a moment to update you on some recent conversations I have had about the Hopkinton Home Rule petition I filed on behalf of the town in late 2023. As you may recall, at Fall town meeting the town voted to end partisan municipal elections and change to non-partisan elections for elected local Hopkinton positions. I have had communication with the Chair and Vice Chairs of Election Laws. The legislation (H.4203) has favorable support from the House and now sits with the Senate. One thing I have learned, however, is that Home Rules – even when things go well – can take more than a year to pass. (To clarify timelines we probably should have considered putting an effective date of 2025 on the petition, given the calendar/fall local passage). I expect the legislation to ultimately pass and be signed by the governor, but not for this Spring election cycle. I was asked if this was an “emergency” (to take the bill out of order), but given many pressing state issues I felt that we could wait our turn.
I know candidates need to plan, and they should confirm with Connor Degan about Hopkinton ballot requirements and deadlines, etc., but at this writing the same process for ballot access that has been in place will likely be in effect for 2024. This means that parties, if they so choose, can caucus to nominate candidates. This might be helpful for filling open slots late in the recruitment process.
That said, candidates who already know they are running, even if there is a caucus process, might want to consider also getting the required number of signatures as a good faith gesture since that will likely be the only path to the local ballot in 2025. If you have any questions feel free to contact me, especially about the legislative process, but I defer to Connor on any specific questions about Hopkinton’s election details. I am looking forward to continuing to work with the people of Hopkinton in the years ahead.
Regards,
Representative James Arena-DeRosa, Middlesex 8 – Holliston, Hopkinton, Millis, Sherborn
To date, the following candidates have declared for the May election:
- Peter Mimmo – Select Board – Democrat
- Kyla McSweeney – Select Board – Democrat
- Parker Happ – Planning Board – Democrat
- Jamie Wronka – School Committee – Democrat
- Chris Masters – School Committee – Unenrolled
- Ilana Casady – Housing Authority – Democrat
- Beth Malloy – Housing Authority – Democrat
- Amy O’Donnell – Parks and Recreation Commission – Democrat
- Linda Kimball – Cemetery Commission – Unenrolled
- Amanda Murphy – Commissioners of Trust Funds – Democrat
Thank you sir for the clarification. I would hope to believe that the parties would listen to town meeting and side with town meeting’s vote, you know, the “Spirit of the Law.” Just because a caucus nomination is legal, I will feel like the parties are ignoring our voices and continue to do what they want.
The town is run by only one party at the moment. We need more centrists or offsets.
Good Lord how many years, and years and years was it run by another party? Been in town 30 years. I remember !
Mike,
The Hopkinton Republican Town Committee has already decided and announced that we will honor the wishes of the town meeting vote and will not have a caucus.
Jim Mirabile
Chair
Hopkinton RTC
Can you please clarify if any of the candidates listed above are here via caucus? I did not believe that they were.
No, these are candidates who have announced their candidacy but have not necessarily collected the 50 signatures required to get on the ballot. Some may choose to skip that step and simply be nominated by the caucus.
It should be pointed out that the Mr. Arena-DeRosa is heavily involved in the HDTC group in town, frequents their meetings and events, and supports their candidates. He also publicly spoke out in support of the HDTC after the horrific behavior of Darlene Hayes in the Spring. He is a registered Democrat.
Mr. Degan is also a HDTC member and Darlene Hayes ran his campaign for State Representative.
Both have a vested interest in the HDTC continuing to be able to caucus come Spring.
You wonder if it would have been emergency if they were of another political party or unenrolled. Given the way this town was torn apart last Spring and several residents and their families have been attacked over the last few election cycles, this situation could be seen as an emergency for many Hopkinton residents.