UPDATED: Wareham selectman resigns, citing "threats" to family

Selectmen will seek to have seat included on April 3 ballot

 The election to replace Wareham Selectman Michael Schneider will take place sometime after March 31, the day he officially steps down from office.

Selectmen voted to ask Governor Deval Patrick for legislation that would allow the town to include Schneider's seat on the April 3 town election ballot, Wareham Week reports.

Approximately six months ago, Schnieder, who was elected last year, stopped attending selectmen’s meetings. His house was empty and his phone disconnected. His son told reporters the family had moved to Florida.

In September, he read a statement claiming that his service had come at “a high personal cost” and that he had been moving his children from the Wareham schools to avoid threats.

In his resignation letter he wrote that his personal situation required him to move out of Wareham permanently. Schneider would have had to resign by January 30 in order for his seat to be on the April 3 ballot. He did not submit his letter until February 8.

Read the Wareham Week story here.

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