Second Person Pulls Papers for Selectmen Run

Lifetime Seekonk resident Paul Buckley on Thursday became the second person to pull papers for a potential run for the vacant position on the Board of Selectmen. Buckley serves on the town's Board of Assessors  and is the chair of the Seekonk Republican Committee. He previously served on the Personnel Board.

"I decided to run for the open seat because my experience in town government and the Republican town committee make me uniquely qualified," Buckley wrote in an email to Seekonk Patch. "I have gained knowledge and insight into how our town government works and the needs of the community. I have many ideas how to make government work better for all our citizens."

Buckley must collect at least 50 signatures from registered Seekonk voters to qualify for the ballot. Parks and Recreation Committee member Nelson Almeida pulled papers last week and returned them the next day with what he said were 70 valid signatures. Patch has not contacted the Town Clerk's office to ask if the signatures have been verified.

This will be Buckley's second run for a selectmen seat. He placed fifth in a six-person race for two seats in 2002. But at the time he was a political newcomer.

"In 2002, I was not involved yet," Buckley wrote to Patch. "That is when it all started. I lost in the election for BOS and then got involved and appointed to the Personnel Board."

The winner of this election will fill the seat made vacant earlier this month by . The person will finish Rice's term, which expires in April 2014.

Election Day is Sept. 24. Residents have until Aug. 6 to enter the race.