Candidates trade doughnuts and John Hancocks at the Morse House

Progress Norwood held its fifth annual candidate signature event at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Morse House in South Norwood.

Each candidate for office needs at least 10 signatures (Town Meeting) or more to get on the ballot come April 6. Signed nomination papers are due back to the Town Clerk’s Office by Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 5 p.m., so there is still time if you think you want to run.

Progress Norwood Steering Committee member Julie Barbour-Issa said the event started because during the COVID-19 pandemic, many candidates were having trouble getting the required number of signatures to be able to get on the ballot.

“This is Progress Norwood running as kind of a service to the Town,” she said. “First we did it during COVID when it was kind of hard to get nomination signatures, and it has evolved since then. First we started on the Town Common, and we got stuck in a snowstorm one year and had to bring shovels.”

For that reason, not to mention the temperature, Barbour-Issa said they moved the event inside.

“We wanted an indoor place, and starting last year we moved it to the Morse House, and we’ve found that’s actually increased attendance,” she said. “Trying to collect signatures in the snow is not fun…. And this is just for nomination; if potential candidates get enough signatures, they can let Norwood voters decide come the election.”

Barbour-Issa said the event is not just glorified paperwork, as it’s a great opportunity for new candidates to schmooze with current office holders and potential voters.

“It’s a great time to meet people running for office, which isn’t always easy, but this is just one hour, and you can stop by with folks who are already on different boards,” she said. “It’s also a chance for people to just be more engaged in Town and get to know the candidates.”

Lastly, Barbour-Issa said setting up the event takes a specific amount of preparation.

“Nothing!” she said with a laugh. “The beauty of this event is it’s a very easy lift. We do have to get a permit from the Board of Selectmen to be able to rent the Morse House out, and that’s quick and easy and the Town Clerk is aware of it, so whenever someone pulls papers, she tells them to come to the event.”

Barbour-Issa said this year and last year they got about 30-50 residents coming out for papers, coffee, hot chocolate and doughnuts.

“I think it’s really nice to meet folks here, I’ve met new people here running for Town Meeting I’ve never met before. And it increases civic engagement,” she said. “Maybe that makes me a huge dork, but I’m happy to do it.”

Barbour-Issa stipulated that any candidate, regardless of affiliation, is welcome at these events.

Town Meeting District 5 candidate Ariel Hyrle said this is her first time running for Town Meeting. She said she wanted to get involved and put her degree to work for her Town.

“I am a policy wonk, I have a policy degree, and I like to be involved in the local politics specifically,” she said. “I want to make sure the Town I live in is a safe and welcoming place. We have a ton of public services, and I think it’s a privilege that we have municipal electric and broadband services, and I believe those services should be protected and available for everybody.”

Resident David Bliss said he’s also running for Town Meeting for the first time and wanted to get involved to bring some new ideas into the conversation.

“I think we need some fresh ideas, maybe somebody who wants to do good for the Town,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of important issues coming up. We’ve got the Comprehensive Plan, and the taxes and spending, there is a lot to be addressed. I want to be collaborative with people on this, and I think we can get the job done.”

Bliss added he felt this was an amazing event for new candidates.

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“I think this is great, and it’s got a good turnout,” he said.

Resident John Steady said he just moved back to Town and was looking for something to do. He stipulated he was not running for any office.

“To be honest, I know (Selectman Amanda Grow and Town Meeting Member Nick Grow) really well, and they said they were doing this, and I didn’t really want to get involved in political stuff or run for office; I just moved across the country two weeks ago, but I thought signing stuff is fine,” he said.

Steady said he’s from New England, but even so, the recent snow was a bit of a shock.

“I’m from Vermont and you’d think I’d be fine with it, but no, this cold is flipping killing me right now,” he said with a laugh. “Seeing this degree of involvement is just surprising. It’s not what I would have expected. And I’m having as much fun as one does at a nomination paper signing.”

Resident Colin Brown said he wanted to run for Town Meeting out of a sense of civic duty.

“I’ve lived here long enough, I care about the Town. And I want to learn how things work to be able to pitch in, and Town Meeting seems like a place where I can find smaller ways to help and be a voice for the community,” he said. “I think this event is very helpful. It’s good to meet other people who are interested, and I think it’s good for informal conversations with people who’ve been here a long time and know a lot of people. People like me running for the first time just don’t always know what we’re doing, and this is a very welcoming introduction into city government.”

For more information and to get nomination papers for yourself, go to https://tinyurl.com/57p9wxjk