Gov. Charlie Baker has proposed legislation that would allow Bedford to skip this year’s town caucus because of the pandemic.
The bill, which was filed Wednesday, authorizes the Select Board to make the determination.
The caucus is the annual nominating meeting for offices to be filled at the March town election. Traditionally it has been held on the second Tuesday of January. According to the town bylaws, it must take place “at least seven days before the date that nomination papers must be submitted for signature certification.”
Due to Baker’s Covid-19 limitation on indoor gatherings, the 2021 caucus would need to be held outside, which has become a major concern to town leaders as January weather could restrict individuals from attending.
Candidates still have the option of qualifying for the ballot by circulating nominating petitions, with or without a caucus. If the caucus is canceled, the governor’s bill allows nominations to be valid with only 10 signatures.
State Rep. Kenneth Gordon, who facilitated the process, said having the governor file the bill as an emergency measure was “the easiest way” to the goal. Although there is never a guarantee of passage, he said, the bill already has been assigned to the House Election Laws Committee.
In his introductory letter to the Legislature accompanying the bill, Gov. Baker wrote that he is filing at the request of the Bedford Select Board and urged “prompt consideration.”
He also pointed out that the bill is consistent with legislation passed several months ago “by which municipalities were permitted to cancel municipal caucuses scheduled to occur between March 23, 2020, and July 31, 2020, because of Covid-19 and to use nominating papers instead to nominate candidates.” Bedford, the first of 13 Massachusetts towns to hold an annual caucus, did not fall within this window.
Date Set for Annual Town Meeting
During the November 23 meeting of the Select Board, the board approved May 15 as the date for Annual Town Meeting, with a rain date on May 16. As in 2020, the Annual Town Meeting is expected to take place on Sabourin Field to avoid indoor gatherings.
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