Who's Running For Council and School Committee This Year?

As the 2012 election season heats up, the pool of candidates for North Kingstown's town council and school committee are racking up after last week's filing date.

The school committee has three of its seven seats up for grabs – and six candidates seeking a spot on the table come December. Terms for members Lynda Avanzato, Melvoid Benson and Dick Welch are all expiring this year. Though both Avanzato and Benson will seek re-election, . Kenneth Carter, the former longtime state representative who was ousted from his spot in the General Assembly by Republican Doreen Costa in 2010, has also declared his candidacy for a spot on the school committee.

The town council, on the other hand, as whopping 15 candidates vying for five seats. There will be at least two new faces on the council as and Check below for a list of this year's candidates so far (courtesy of the North Kingstown Board of Canvassers).

(Italicized names indicate an incumbent candidate.)

School Committee

• Robert Jones (Republican)
• Augustine Manocchia (Republican)
• Lynda Avanzato (Democrat)
• Melvoid Benson (Democrat)
• Kenneth Carter (Democrat)
• Cheryl A. Clarkin (Independent)

Town Council

• Richard "Dick" Welch (Democrat)
• Michael Bestwick (Democrat)
• Tracy McCue (Democrat)
• Donald A. Souza, Jr. (Democrat)
• Elizabeth Dolan (Republican)
• Carol Hueston (Republican)
• Brent Cleaveland (Republican)
• Mark Hawkins (Republican)
• Kerry McKay (Republican)
• Larry Ceresi (Independent)
• Dorman Hayes (Independent)
• Richard Lamere (Independent)
• Kevin Maloney (Independent)
• Colin O'Sullivan (Independent)
• Rick Thompson (Independent)