New Candidates Emerge in Milford Elections

A potential race for Milford Highway Surveyor emerged Tuesday, when a former surveyor pulled paperwork to run for the elected seat overseeing the Milford Highway Department.

Former surveyor Shelly A. Leclaire took out papers on Tuesday, said Amy Hennessy Neves, town clerk.

This sets up a potential race between Leclaire and incumbent Highway Surveyor Scott Crisafulli, who is seeking a third term. Crisafulli has already returned his nomination papers.

Leclaire is the former highway surveyor. In a brief phone interview Wednesday, she said she served from 1999 to 2008, running unopposed three times. She left the elected position to take a job in the private sector. Now the administrator for Carlo Molinari Inc., a civil utility contractor, she said she wanted to run for the office again because she has ideas for improving the department and has missed public service.

"It's in my blood," she said. "I thought I could leave and do something different and that hasn't been the case." Her campaign for the position "isn't personal. It's professional."

In an email, Crisafulli, first appointed to the position in 2008, then elected to two terms, said he hoped to continue to serve town residents.

"For the past seven years I have been determined to give the people more than they have had in the past," he wrote. "That has happened. From the beginning I have never taken the position of Highway Surveyor lightly. This determination and energy is still alive and well. I look forward to continue serving the residents of Milford now, and in the future."

Another potential race is emerging on the School Committee. John Erickson, who is the town's Building Commissioner, drew papers Tuesday to run for one of two available seats on the committee. Another new candidate to this position, Joe Callery, pulled papers earlier this month. The School Committee, which has seven seats, has two available this year for election.

Two sitting incumbents have not yet pulled papers to run again. Neither Christine Boyle nor Robert Lanzetta, the current chairman, could be reached on Tuesday night for comment.

Candidates in Milford can request papers to run for election until Feb. 7. The election is April 1.