Tewksbury Selectman Race Heats Up With Candidate Announcement

While nomination papers won't be available at the Town Clerk's office until next Monday, the race for Tewksbury Board of Selectmen is already heating up with one candidate announcing his intention to run against incumbent Selectman Doug Sears. 

Bruce Panilaitis, a Foster Road resident, announced his intention to run in the April 5 town election on Sunday with a Facebook page.

Tewksbury residents will remember Panilaitis as an opponent of the proposed slots parlor that was defeated at an August Special Town Meeting.

Announcing his intention to run for Selectmen on Facebook, Panilaitis writes:

My wife and I have been very involved in town with the school system, youth sports, our church, and the town in general. After a whirlwind summer with our role in the slots debate, I have decided it is time to go from spectator to participant in our local government and will be pulling nomination papers on January 6th to get on the ballot in April 2014. I hope to earn your support and your vote to have the privilege to fill a seat on the Tewksbury Board of Selectmen.

Panilaitis was a vocal member of the grassroots group No Slots Tewksbury, who rallied against the proposed slots parlor at 300 Ames Pond Drive, citing increases in crime, depreciation in property values and negative impact on local business. 
The proposed slots parlor was defeated at an Aug. 20 Special Town Meeting by a vote of 1,568 votes against to 995 in favor.
There is only one seat up for grabs on the Board of Selectmen this time around, and it is expected Sears will run for reelection. 

Tewksbury town officials facing expiring terms in 2014 include Selectman Doug Sears, School Committee member Brian Dick, Library Trustees Robert Homeyer and Patrick J. Joyce, Board of Health member Charles J. Roux and Housing Authority member Louise A. Gearty.

Planning Board member Vincent Spada also faces an expiring term, but has announced he does not plan to seek reelection. 

Town Moderator Keith Rauseo also faces an expiring term in 2014, but announced at an October Special Town Meeting that he would not seek reelection.