The filing period for this spring's election has closed, and new candidates have emerged to form contested races on the ballot.

There are multiple candidates for the Board of Selectmen, School Committee and Redevelopment Committee, all of which have one available position.

In the final hours of eligibility, resident Kevin MacDonald filed his papers and was certified by Town Clerk Sharon George to run for selectman and Redevelopment Authority.

According to George, MacDonald is able to run for multiple positions. He cannot, however, accept both roles if he is victorious in each. Citizens are only allowed to serve one elected office at a time.

The Redevelopment Authority is set to be discussed at Annual Town Meeting. The group has been inactive for several years and there are only two current members, so an article sponsored by the Board of Selectmen asks residents if it should be dissolved. One of the members, Sidney Kaizer, is up for re-election and is not running.

MacDonald and his brother, Darryl MacDonald, are both running for Kaizer's spot on the Redevelopment Authority, which at full strength is supposed to have five members.

"(A contested race) doesn't in my mind address the issue directly as to whether or not it should be dissolved," said Town Manager Michael Caira. "I believe there is no more purpose for the group and it should be dissolved. Even if one person is elected, it doesn't change that because there would still only be two members."

Caira added that selectmen may address the issue because it is their article on the warrant. The Town Manager also added that Town Council may be consulted.

Incumbent Michael Champoux is running for re-election, and will be opposed by Kevin MacDonald.

Mario Marchese is running for re-election to School Committee, and will be up against Mary Jane Byrnes and Manny Mulas, who was unsuccessful at the ballot boxes last year. The three candidates are running for two vacant seats.

Running unopposed are James Stewart for Town Moderator and Stacie Murphy for Housing Authority.