BY RYAN O’CONNOR

When voters go to the polls on March 13 in Hopkinton and Dunbarton, they will be choosing candidates to fill open seats for town and school district positions.

Hopkinton

Two of Hopkinton’s most prominent officials have decided not to run for re-election.

Arpiar Saunders of the Hopkinton School Board and Selectman Clarke Kidder have decided to step aside at the end of their terms in March.

Kidder has been a selectman for the past three years and Saunders has been on the school board for 12 years.

Saunders, however, will run against outspoken resident and School District Treasurer Arnold Coda for a one-year term.

For Hopkinton Board of Selectmen, Chairman Louise Carr is seeking re-election to one of two open seats. Challengers for the two three-year terms are Tom Congoran, Scott W. Flood, and Joanie McIntire.

Those seeking re-election  are town clerk/tax collector Sue B. Strickford for another three-year terms, and trustee of the trust funds Chairman Richard Gourley for three years.

On the budget committee, Chairman Karen Irwin, Daniel Coen and Patrice Gerseny are running unopposed for re-election for three three-year seats.

George W. Chase, Holly Gagne and Beth Taylor are competing for two three-year library trustee  seats.

Sharon  C. Baker is looking to assume a one-year term as supervisor of the checklist, and Patricia C. Smith is running for a three-year term as cemetery trustee.

Running for open school district positions in Hopkinton include the following: David Luneau, Marion L. Paxton and Peter B. Yunich are all vying for Saunders’ vacated three-year term on the school board. Charles Dibble is also running unopposed for another year as school district moderator, as is Sue Batchelder for a one-year seat as school district clerk.

Dunbarton

Selectmen Chairman Mert Mann will be challenged for a three-year seat on the board by David Pellenz.

School board member Brian Little will not seek another term, opening the door for Carl Metzger who joins incumbent Rene Ouellet on the ballot for two three-year seats.

Those running unopposed  for re-election include the following:

Martha Rae, who is running for a three-year seat as tax collector; Bryan H. Clark seeking another three-year term on the board of assessors; Brigitte Cook is running for another three years on the ethics committee; Tiffany Dodd, seeking to retain her seat for another three years as library trustee; and Richard Schaeffer who wants to serve three more years as cemetery trustee.

Kirstin Petretta was appointed as a library trustee when Meegan McCorkle moved out of state last year. Petretta will run for another one-year term.

Because no one filed to run  for a two-year term as a trustee of the trust funds last year, James Mann was appointed by selectmen. He will step aside this year and Jan VandeBogart will run unopposed for the seat.

Bill Jenkins will not seek re-election for his three-year seat as trustee of the trust funds, leaving the position vacant on the election ballot.