Rowe

LaCourtBoth selectmen seats are up for grabs in the April town election as board Chair Clarissa Rowe and colleague Annie LaCourt announced officially Monday, Jan. 9, that they will not seek reelection.

Rowe, who is in her second term, became choked up as she told the board that she would not run.

LaCourt, who is completing a one-year term, had previously said she would not seek reelection but made it official.

School Committee member Joseph Curro Jr. and former School Committee member and selectman candidate Joseph Curran have returned their papers for selectman, and they have been certified, the clerk's office said Jan. 10.

Steven M. Byrne of 28 Upland Road took out papers for selectmen on Jan. 5, the clerk's office said.

"I’m going to be 64 in April, and I can’t do two full-time jobs anymore," said Rowe, who was first elected in 2006 and reelected in 2009. "I’m going to stay with the one that pays me a little bit more and, more importantly, doesn’t have as many night meetings."

Rowe is a registered landscape architect and cofounder of Brown, Richardson & Rowe of Boston.

Rowe said she wants to continue as a Town Meeting member representing Precinct 4, where she moved recently.

Rowe said she loved Town Hall and town employees. She said it was a pleasure to work with them and found them to be hard-working.

"You have been very well served by those who work for the town. They make me proud," she said, her speech halting as she held back tears.

"It's a great job," she said, referring to being a selectman.

Kevin Greeley, LaCourt and Dan Dunn thanked Rowe for her service. Dunn said he enjoyed learning from Rowe.

Town Manager Brian Sullivan thanks Rowe and LaCourt, citing the fairness with which they addressed issues.

The chairwoman said she is not going to be a "lame duck" until April in the light of the work the board faces, including the ongoing search to replace Sullivan, who to retire in February.

In 2009, Rowe received 3,418 votes as Jack Hurd topped the ticket, with 4,024. In 2006, she had 4,340, and Hurd had 5,480. 

LaCourt, who followed up an earlier announcement by confirming to YourArlington in December saying she would not run, said she "so loved" her time on the board but was feeling "a little burnt."

She was elected to a one-year term last April, beating Curran, 3,856 to 3,152, after Hurd left the board to run for clerk. She won elections to the board in 2005 and 2008.

Four selectmen heard Rowe's and LaCourt's announcements. Diane Mahon was absent, following the death of her uncle.

Greeley urged the public to run for office.

The deadline for taking out nomination papers is Feb. 16; the Town Election will be April 10.

2012 Town Election information

This story was first published Monday, Jan. 9, and updated the next day.