Local Elections Update: Jennie Cook Joins School Committee Race

Six weeks out from the deadline for candidates to return their papers certifying candidacy for the 2026 annual Nantucket town election, races for several key seats are starting to take shape.

So far, two candidates are running for two seats on the School Committee: incumbent Dr. Tim Lepore and Nantucket Stage Company clerk Jennie Cook. Incumbent Shantaw Bloise Murphy hasn’t pulled papers yet, but also hasn’t declared that she won’t run.

Incumbents Hillary Hedges Rayport, Neil Patterson, and Peter Brace have pulled papers for the Planning Board, Land Bank, and Shellfish and Harbor Advisory Board respectively, and are currently unchallenged.

No one has yet pulled papers for the Historic District Commission, Nantucket Housing Authority, or Town Moderator.

At this point, there is only one election with more candidates than seats, though it is still relatively early in the election cycle. Three candidates have pulled papers for two spots on the Water Commission: incumbents Curtis Barnes and Nelson “Snooky” Eldridge, and newcomer Michael Eagen.

As previously reported, Amy Eldridge has pulled papers to run for one of the two Select Board seats up for election this spring, and incumbent Malcolm MacNab will not run. Incumbent Tim Dixon has yet to announce whether he will run or not, and has yet to pull papers.