By JOSEPH FITZGERALD

BELLINGHAM — It’s shaping up as one of the most active annual town elections in recent years with plenty of contested races - five to be exact - on the May 6 ballot.

Voters heading to the polls will be asked to decide a three-way race for two seats on the Board of Selectmen; a five-way contest for town clerk; a two-way race for Planning Board; a two-way race for School Committee; and a three-way race for Housing Authority.
The three candidates vying for the two three-year seats on the Board of Selectmen are incumbent Ronald L. Picard of 100 Wrentham Road; candidate Mary E. Chaves of 289 Blackstone St.; and former selectman Jerald A. Mayhew of 35 Cross St.
Incumbent Ann L. Odabashian did not seek re-election this year, and is, instead, a candidate for town clerk.
The five candidates battling it out for the two-year unexpired slot for town clerk are Odabashian 165 Lisa Ann Drive; Danielle N. Fisher of 10 Pine St., Lisa M. Julian of 39 Farm St.; Katherine M. Marino of 6 Lemire Court; and Ronald R. Picard of 27 Gemmur Lane.
Longtime Town Clerk Kathleen M. Harvey, who served as Bellingham’s town clerk for 20 years, announced her decision to retire in January. She will complete her term as town clerk until the town election.
The two candidates vying for the three-year seat on the School Committee are Kevin C. De Gray Sr. of 15 Lizotte Drive, and Cheryl A. Gray of 11 Fox
Run Road. Incumbent School Committeewoman Gwyn J. Swanson did not seek re-election.
Vying for the three-year seat on the Planning Board are incumbent Brian J. Sutherland of 57 Yvonne Road and challenger John P. Murray of 86 Norfolk St.
The fifth and final contest pits Edward W. Guzowski 758 South Main St. against Debra K. Sacco of 41 Elm St. and Jason S. Tucker of 58 Highridge Road for the five-year seat on the Housing Authority. Incumbent William F. O’Connell Jr. did not seek re-election.
A three-year seat and an unexpired term on the Board of Library Trustees are being sought by candidates Lisa M. Cavossa of 272 Blackstone St., and Suzanne Garten of 27 Chamberlain Road. Incumbent Trustees Kathleen Bartlett did not seek re-election and the unexpired term was vacated by Bernadette D. Rivard. Rivard is seeking to fill the vacant library director post, which was formerly held by Charlotte Canelli who left the job in January.
The deadline for residents to register to vote in the annual election is by 8 p.m. tonight.