DERRY, N.H. — Twenty-five people will compete for the town's nine-member Charter Commission.
The candidates include one town councilor, a School Board member, two members of the Conservation Commission, several members of a local taxpayer group and several residents with no political experience.
Friday was the final day for residents to enter the race. An election will be held on Aug. 4 to elect the nine members.
Once the Charter Commission is formed, they will either revise the current charter or write a new one. Before any changes are made, residents will have the chance to vote on the commission's recommendation.
A special election was held on June 9, in which voters approved forming a charter commission.
That election was the result of a petition organized by the Alliance of Derry Taxpayers, which collected residents' signatures at the March election.
Town Councilor Kevin Coyle said even if the commission doesn't recommend Derry become a city, there are sections of the charter that constantly require town officials to consult with their attorney. Each time their attorney is called upon, it costs the taxpayers money, he said.
"There are some poorly written or ambiguous clauses in the charter," Coyle said.
The current charter, for example, doesn't specify whether the Town Council has the authority to bond for anything over $5 million without having residents vote, Coyle said.
The last time the charter was amended was 2005.
Some candidates have little political experience.
Joseph DiChiaro, Jr., is the pastor of Calvary Fellowship Church in Manchester. He said his previous experience as a lawyer in the public and private sectors will help the commission. He said he has no opinion on what recommendation he would like the commission to make.
"I just want to see the town do the right thing," DiChiaro said.
A committee appointed by the Town Council is also exploring changes to the town charter. That committee has already held several meetings.
The candidates include: Al Dimmock, Kevin Coyle, James MacEachern, Michael Gill, Stephanie Hooten, Jeffrey Williams, Doug Newell, Howie Lund, Heather Newell, Margaret 'Meg' Morsebarry, John O'Connor, Ricardo Buzzanga, M. Kathryn McCarroll, David Thompson, Paul Dione, Joe DiChiaro Jr., Holly Whitney, Fred Tompkins, Kimberly Cyr, Pamela Lynch, David Milz, Rodney "Chris" Reisdorf, Gary Woscyna, Tom Cardon and Brenda Willis.
