At least two ward councilors in Springfield, Clodovaldo Concepcion of Ward 5 and Timothy Allen of Ward 7 are unopposed on the fall ballot
SPRINGFIELD – City Election Commissioner Gladys Oyola said Friday she was surprised that so few new people chose to take out nomination papers for ward seats on the City Council this year.
The deadline for taking out nomination papers lapsed at 5 p.m. on Friday. Those who did take out papers have until Tuesday at 5 p.m. to return the required signatures to qualify for the fall ballot.
A total of 39 people took out papers for the mayor’s race and the 13-member City Council. There is no School Committee race this year, as members are mid-way through a four-year term.
Just 16 people took out nomination papers for the eight ward seats on the council, including seven incumbents.
Gladys Oyola“My biggest surprise was the lack of interest in new people running for the ward seats,” Oyola said.
The council was expanded and changed to a mix of eight ward seats and five at-large seats in the last election in 2009. It was expected to generate greater interest and participation, officials said.
At least two ward councilors will be uncontested, Oyola said.
Clodovaldo Concepcion, the Ward 5 councilor, and Timothy C. Allen of Ward 7 were the only candidates to take out papers for those seats.
One ward councilor, Amaad Rivera of Ward 6, has decided to run for at-large seat rather than the ward seat.
No more than one challenger has been certified thus far for any ward seat, as of Friday, Oyola said.
Three candidates have been certified for the ballot for mayor: incumbent Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and challenges Jose F. Tosado and Antonette E. Pepe. With more than two candidates, a preliminary election is needed Sept. 20, to reduce the field to two finalists.
Four other people took out papers for mayor, and have until Tuesday to submit at least 500 signatures of registered voters if they wish to be on the ballot.
There may also be a preliminary election needed to reduce the field of candidates for the five at-large City Council seats. Ten candidates have been certified, including four incumbants, excluding Tosado, and it appears that at least one additional candidate will be certified, which would trigger the need of the preliminary contest. Council candidates must return at least 100 signatures of registered voters to qualify for the ballot.
A preliminary election is needed if there are more than 10 candidates for the five at-large seats, as it would exceed two candidates per seat, Oyola said.
