NORTH ATTLEBORO - Two precincts will not have a single candidate listed on April's ballot for seats on Representative Town Meeting.

No one from Precincts 1 and 4, which have historically been difficult to fill, took out nomination papers for seats on the town's legislature by Friday's deadline.

Barring a write-in campaign or post-election appointments to the seats, Precinct 1 will be represented by its three current members and Precinct 4 will be represented by its four current members for the next year. Precincts should have 16 members if all seats are filled.

Meanwhile, one precinct attracted enough candidates for the RTM's only contested race. Precinct 9 could have a three-person race for a one-year seat if all candidates return their nomination papers. David Wilmarth, Gary Tonnies and William Ward Jr. have taken out papers for the seat, but none has returned nomination papers yet.

In a strange twist, the second highest vote-getter in that race could actually end up with a two-year seat since it lacks a candidate. The highest vote-getter who didn't win a seat is typically given first dibs on vacant spots. All told, only 53 percent of the RTM seats on the ballot have candidates - though the low percentage is mainly due to the lack of candidates in Precincts 1 and 4. Many of the other precincts will have all their seats filled.

Nomination papers must be returned to the town election office with 10 signatures from voters living within the candidate's precinct by 5 p.m. on Feb. 12.

The following is a list of people who have taken out papers:

Precinct 1: No one took out papers.

Precinct 2: Stephen Chapdelaine, Michael Coyle, Robert Grozier John Kraskouskas and Samuel Read took out papers for three-year seats while Diane Bouthillette has taken out papers for a one-year seat.

Precinct 3: Robert Burgoyne, Dwight Estey, Gail McKenna, James Moynihan and Agnes Woodbury have taken out papers for three-year terms.

Precinct 4: No one took out papers.

Precinct 5: Michael Famolle and Jerome Margulies have taken out papers for three-year terms.

Precinct 6: Michelle Grambley, Bryce Lipscomb, Melaine Samuel, Gene Regnier and Carolyn Walsh have taken out papers for three-year seats.

Precinct 7: Brian Geoghegan, Robert Nerz, Kevin Nugent, Theresa Nugent and Bart Steele have taken out papers for three-year terms while Ryan McKay has taken out papers for a one-year term. Precinct 8: Donald Bates, Peter Gaudino, Richard Lush, David Manoogian and Joseph Bagarella have taken out papers for three-year terms.

Precinct 9: Charles Beale, Sheila Hoye, Judith Lewis, Paul Pinsonnault and Jared Picchi have taken out papers for three-year seats. Glen Bourque has taken out papers for a two-year seat. Gary Tonnies, David Wilmarth and William Ward Jr. have all taken out papers for a single one-year seat.

AMY DeMELIA can be reached at 508-236-0334 or at ademelia@thesunchronicle.com.