WILMINGTON — Longtime Selectman Michael Newhouse will not seek re-election, creating a wide-open race for two seats on the board in the April town election.
Newhouse cited both family commitments and his law practice, saying it has become “increasingly difficult to spend the time it takes to be an effective selectman.”
Newhouse’s decision follows that of three-term Selectman Louis Cimaglia, who announced last week he would not run.
Newhouse was first elected in 1998. He also challenged long-time incumbent state Rep. James Miceli.
He said several “very capable” candidates emerged following Cimaglia’s announcement, making his own decision easier.
Residents who have taken out nomination papers for one of the two, three-year seats on the town executive board are:
* Housing Authority Chairman Gregory Bendel, a teacher at Shawsheen Valley Technical High School.
* Kevin Caira, the town of Amesbury’s retirement coordinator.
* Joseph Lavino, a director at CVS Caremark.
* Thomas Miller, a retired Wilmington police detective.
The deadline to obtain nomination papers is March 3. The town election is set for April 23.
