Two former selectmen returned nomination papers by Friday’s deadline to get on the ballot for Wiscasset selectman. The Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017 special election will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judy Flanagan last month.

Absentee ballots will be available Dec. 27.

Voters will choose between Lawrence (Larry) Gordon and Katharine G. Martin-Savage. Both are well-known, longtime residents and active in the community.

Martin-Savage served one, two-year term on the select board from 2002 through 2004. This was the same year the town went to a five-member board and town manager form of government. Before retiring in 1994, she worked in the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office. Previously, Martin-Savage was employed by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. The last few years, Martin-Savage has served as a member of the Two Bridges Regional Jail Authority. She was married to the late Lewis Savage. Martin-Savage resides on Indian Road.

Gordon served over three decades on the board of selectmen, more than half of those years as the town’s first selectman and chairman when it was a three-member board. Before being elected a selectman, Gordon served several years on the town’s budget committee. He is a 50-year member of the Wiscasset Fire Department and a past member of the Wiscasset Ambulance Service, being one of its first members. He’s also a 50-year member of the Lincoln Lodge of Masons. He resides on Federal Street with his wife Norma where he operates a real estate and accounting business.

Just before the town office closed Dec. 16, Town Clerk Linda Perry confirmed both Gordon and Martin-Savage had filed nomination papers. A third person who had taken out papers did not return them, she said. Flanagan’s resignation was effective Nov. 16; her unexpired term runs until June 30, 2017.

Following the special election, the newly elected selectman will take office at the start of the 2017-18 budget process and serve a five-month term. Should they want to remain on the board of selectmen, they’ll need to file nomination papers again at the end of March to be included on the June 2017 ballot.

Selectman David Cherry’s term also expires June 30.