Newcomer Bugda Gwilt Enters Race for Board of Health

First-time candidate holds PhD in pharmacology

Resident Katlynn Bugda Gwilt today pulled papers for the three-year Board of Health seat. Bugda Gwilt is a research fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital and holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Northeastern University. If her name sounds familiar, it might be because she pushed the Elementary School Building Committee to install crosswalks and improved signage on Pleasant St. near the new Center school.

We now have two contested races, Select Board and Board of Health. Those interested in running have until 4:30 p.m. on Friday to return 50 signatures.

Who’s In the Hunt

Here are the people running for various seats. A * indicates that the candidate qualified to be on the ballot by returning the required 50 signatures, per Town Clerk Denise Graffeo.

Race: Select Board (two candidates, one three-year term)
* Patrick Holland is currently a member of the Conservation Commission and the Community Preservation Committee. He was recently part of the host committee for Sal DeFranco, who unsuccessfully challenged Senator Barry Finegold in the 2022 state election.

Stephen Johnson is chair of the Tewksbury Planning Board. An attorney with Donovan Hatem LLP specializing in professional liability, insurance defense and coverage, and business and construction litigation, Johnson has served on the Planning Board since 2011 and as chair for six years. We recently interviewed him for our 2023 In Preview series.

Incumbent Jay Kelly is not seeking reelection.

Race: School Committee (one candidate, one three-year term)
* Kaitlyn (Katie) Anderson is a Senior Logistic Manager at Raytheon. Anderson is also a PAC co-chair for the new Center Elementary School and is very involved in Tewksbury youth sports.

Incumbent Keith Sullivan is not seeking reelection.

Race: Planning Board (one candidate for one two-year unexpired term, one candidate for a three-year term)
* Jonathan Ciampa is running for the three-year term. Ciampa has been a resident since 1999. He holds a BS in Architecture from Northeastern and currently works as a project manager, senior estimator and safety officer at electrical construction and engineering firm John A. Penney Co. Ciampa served on the ESBC change order subcommittee and was appointed to the Planning Board in August.

Jay Delaney is running for the two-year term. Delaney previously served one five-year term. He has lived in Tewksbury since 1954 and is a retired union electrician and electrical contractor with over 50 years in the industry.

Incumbent Bob Fowler is leaving the Board after serving for 40 years.

Race: Board of Health (one three-year term)
Katlynn Bugda Gwilt is running for a three-year term. Bugda Gwilt is a Research Fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital and holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Northeastern.
George Ferdinand is seeking to return to the Board of Health, where he served from 2016 to 2019. He is a retired union autoworker who also previously ran unsuccessfully for Planning Board and Select Board.

Incumbent Charlie Roux has not indicated if he plans to run.

Race: Housing Authority (one two-year unexpired term)
Ryan Lloyd is a Tewksbury native and 2009 graduate of Shawsheen Tech. He served for 12 years in the U.S. Air Force and holds a BA in Political Science & Government from American Military University.

Jerry Selissen pulled papers but told the Carnation that he has withdrawn from the race.

Race: Board of Library Trustees (two three-year terms)
Jessica Rauseo is a fourth-generation Tewksburian who graduated from TMHS in 2001. She has two children in Tewksbury schools, one a senior at TMHS and the other a sixth-grader at the Ryan. Rauseo works at St. Joseph the Worker Shrine in Lowell.

Race: Moderator (one three-year term)
Incumbent Dustin Weir is looking to continue in the moderator role. Weir drew praise for his handling of the May and October 2022 town meetings, which featured such contentious issues as the new zoning bylaw, new School/DPW facility and retail marijuana.

Interested in running? Nomination papers are now available at the Town Clerk’s office, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

If you’re unsure what’s involved, check out this YouTube presentation from Graffeo, noting that the relevant dates and open seats have changed.

The 2023 Annual Town Election will be held on Sat., April 1. The deadline for candidates to file their nomination papers is Friday, Feb. 10, before 5:00 p.m., at the Town Clerk’s Office. You will need signatures from 50 registered Tewksbury voters to get on the ballot.

For more information, visit the town’s Annual Town Election – Running for Public Office page.