On March 26, the Reading Democratic Town Committee and Reading Republican Town Committees co-sponsored the official Select Board Candidate Forum, providing an opportunity for residents to hear directly from candidates. The event was held in the Community Room at the Reading Public Library and was recorded by RCTV for those unable to attend in person. The forum was moderated by Jen Hillary, with Bob Holmes serving as the interviewer.

My name is Rich Swanson, and I am running for RMLD Commissioner in the upcoming election. I'm excited about the opportunity. I currently work as the Director of the Energy & Climate Division at Blue Strike - a small consultancy - as an energy economist and finance specialist with experience in infrastructure planning, regulatory design, and strategic decarbonization. Specifically, I lead a team that delivers tailored sustainability and energy strategies to public and private sector clients.

Reading residents will have the opportunity to cast their votes early for the Annual Town Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. On Election Day, all precincts will vote at Reading Memorial High School Field House (62 Oakland Road), with polls open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.

My name is David Talbot and I’m running for re-election to the Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) Board of Commissioners. RMLD is the electric utility serving Reading, Wilmington, North Reading, and part of Lynnfield.

Dear Reading Community,

My name is Lara and I am seeking election to a 3-year seat on the School Committee. I am the mom of two children in the Reading Public Schools system, one at Joshua Eaton and one at Parker, and have worked in higher education since receiving my PhD from Boston University in 2013. I am eager to apply my experiences as a parent, an academic, and a Reading resident to support the mission of the School Committee and enhance the educational and social experiences of our entire student population.

The Reading Democratic (RDTC) and Republican Town (RRTC) Committees are proud to announce they are partnering to co-host the official Reading Candidate Forum! Previously organized by RCTV, the move to a smaller office has made hosting this year's forum challenging. However, the two political town committees have come together to fill the gap.

Hello, my name is Tony D’Arezzo, and I’m running for Select Board because I can and will make a positive impact on our community. With a long career in Information Technology (IT), I have worked for small companies where every dollar mattered, midsized companies with diverse teams, and large corporations with their rules and bureaucracy. This experience has given me the skills and taught me the importance of researching the facts, listening to opposing opinions, and building consensus. It has also taught me that change is inevitable. You either plan for it or it rolls over you.

Reading residents are invited to meet Karen Rose-Gillis, candidate for local office, at Whitelam Books located at 610 Main Street on Monday, March 10 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. This event offers an opportunity for community members to ask questions, share concerns and discuss important town matters directly with the candidate.

Dear Reading Community,

My name is Dana Guarino, and I am running for one of the two open positions on the Reading School Committee.  I would like the opportunity to earn your vote on April 8th 2025.  My wife and I have an 11-year-old daughter and twin boys who are almost 9.  They all attend Joshua Eaton.  

Dear Reading Community,

I hope this message finds you well. I am excited to officially announce my re-election campaign for one of the two Select Board seats on April 8th.

Hello residents of Reading! My name is Christopher Cook, and I’m excited to announce my candidacy for the Reading Select Board in the upcoming election on April 8th. My family and I are recent residents of Reading, and from the moment we arrived, we knew we had made the right choice. We were drawn to this town because of its strong sense of community, excellent schools, and vibrant local businesses. 

Karen Rose-Gillis has announced she is running for the Select Board. Karen is an active listener, a clear, consistent communicator, and a respectful and analytical decision-maker, and she believes these attributes will be a huge asset to the Select Board. Karen has lived in Reading since 1993 and raised three children in Reading. Most recently, Karen was a Parking Advisory & Recommendation Committee (PARC) member, a long-time Boy Scout and Girl Scout leader, and a meaningful contributor to Reading school and sports communities. Please join Karen with your enthusiasm and energy to move Reading forward and make it even better. Decisions made now need to be thoughtful solutions for the future. Let’s come up with some thoughtful solutions for the future; our town deserves it! For more information, please visit: https://www.VoteForKRG.com