There will be competition for the mayoralty in the Nov. 8 municipal election in both West Springfield and in Agawam, where there could even be a Sept. 8 preliminary election to narrow the field from three candidates to two, according to officials.
Holyoke - Staff photo by Dave Roback -
West Springfield Mayor Edward J. Gibson, who is stepping down, said Tuesday he was surprised more candidates for mayor had not surfaced.WEST SPRINGFIELD - There will be competition for the mayoralty in the Nov. 8 municipal election in both West Springfield and in Agawam, where there could even be a Sept. 8 preliminary election to narrow the field from three candidates to two, according to officials.
In West Springfield, both Town Councilor Gerard B. Matthews and Gregory C. Neffinger, a local architect, have been certified to be on the Nov. 8 ballot by the town clerk's office. In Agawam, Mayor Richard A. Cohen and challenger Walter A. Meissner III have also been certified to be on the ballot, according to Town Clerk Richard M. Theroux.
In addition, former state Rep. Rosemary Sandlin, who has declared her intention to run for Agawam mayor, is expected to turn in her nomination papers soon, Theroux said Tuesday. Candidates in Agawam have until Aug. 23 to return their nomination papers to the town clerk's office to meet the deadline for having their names on the Nov. 8 ballot.
West Springfield Mayor Edward J. Gibson, who is stepping down, said Tuesday he was surprised more candidates for mayor had not surfaced.
"If I were running, they would be coming out of the woodwork," Gibson said.
In West Springfield, the deadline to return nomination papers with the required number of signatures of registered voters to be listed on the ballot was 5 p.m. Tuesday.
As of then, seven residents had turned in and qualified to run for the six seats on the School Committee, seven for five at-large Town Council seats and six for the four Town Council seats representing Districts 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Staff Photo by Dave Roback- Agawam Mayor Richard A. Cohen announced his bid for re-election at the Polish Club of Agawam in May. Those seeking the seats on the School Committee are incumbents Kathleen A. Alevras, Nancy M. Farrell, Patricia A. Garbacik and Joseph Foresi Jr. and challengers Tina M. Heinrich-Stewart of 683 Rogers Ave., Michelle M. Serafino, of 146 Woodbrook Terrace, and Joey Sutton, of 354 Lancaster Ave.
Certified to run for at-large seats on the Town Council were incumbents Kathleen A. Bourque, Brian J. Griffin, George R. Kelly and Robert M. Mancini as well as challengers Anthony Cestari, of 569 Amostown Road, Bruce L. Gendron, of 200 Poplar Ave., and Michael E. LaRiviere, of 44 Sawmill Road.
In addition, District 1 Councilor Angus M. Rushlow was qualified to run for re-election unopposed, as was District 2 Councilor Lida M. Powell.
In District 3, George D. Condon III of 159 Sibley Ave. as well as School Committee Vice Chairman Daniel G. Sullivan of 95 Deer Run Drive qualified to run for that neighborhood's council seat. In District 4, incumbent John R. Sweeney qualified to run for re-election facing opposition from Mark D. Bergeron of 109 Apple Ridge Road, who will also have his name on the ballot.
In Westfield, nomination papers are available until 5 p.m. Aug. 5. To date, Mayor Daniel M. Knapik is the only certified candidate for mayor and a sufficient number of councilor at-large candidates, currently circulating papers, would indicate a preliminary election might be needed Sept. 27.
There are also four candidates seeking a two-year term on the School Committee and six people seeking the three four-year School Committee seats.
Reporter Ted LaBorde contributed to this report.