Brockton preliminary election results in. Here's who'll be facing off in November.

Chris Helms, The Enterprise
Updated ·4 min read

BROCKTON — Mayor Robert F. Sullivan and business owner Fred Fontaine will be facing off in the November election after the other three contenders for the top post in the city were eliminated in Tuesday's preliminary election.

“I’m excited by the results. Tomorrow I go back to work," Sullivan said Tuesday night. “The renaissance is real.”

Sullivan beat out his nearest rival, Fontaine, by a nearly three-to-one margin, with Sullivan pulling in 2,997 votes to Fontaine's 1,114, according to unofficial results.

“Brockton deserves better,” Fontaine said Tuesday night. “We’re going to have a better city.“

Election Results: Race-by-race numbers for the Preliminary Election in 2023

Mayoral candidate Fred Fontaine celebrates with supporters at his campaign headquarters on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023.
Mayoral candidate Fred Fontaine celebrates with supporters at his campaign headquarters on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023.

The other three candidates for mayor were: restaurateur and real estate broker Hamilton Rodrigues, who garnered 310 votes; mentor John C. Williams with 300 votes; and Richard Ripley, a retired Brocktonian, who pulled in 47 votes.

The preliminary election comes as residents question the city's finances and leadership amid a scandal over a $14.4 million overspending spree at Brockton Public Schools.

“I will get to the bottom of what happened on the school side,” Sullivan said Tuesday night.

Mayor Robert Sullivan and wife Maria Sullivan at campaign headquarters on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023.
Mayor Robert Sullivan and wife Maria Sullivan at campaign headquarters on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023.

Low turnout

At Ward 3, precinct B, no voters showed up when the Enterprise stopped by for about 20 minutes as the polls closed. Out of 2,075 registered voters, only 121 had voted. Aliki Sarantopoulos, the longtime warden, called the turnout "disgraceful."

Poll worker Omega Corbett was working her first election.

"Some people don't think it's important to vote, that their vote doesn't count," she said. "But it does."

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Results for City Councilor at large

The election narrowed the field of city councilor at large candidates down from nine to eight, eliminating first-time candidate Jed Hresko.

Jean Bradley Derenoncourt made a big statement by topping the vote totals in his bid to regain a city council seat.

Jean Bradley Derenoncourt Councilor-At-Large top the ticket with votes and is congratulated by Marie Bouquet on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023.
Jean Bradley Derenoncourt Councilor-At-Large top the ticket with votes and is congratulated by Marie Bouquet on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023.

Here's how many votes each candidate received:

  • Jean Bradley Derenoncourt, 2,156

  • Winthrop H. Farwell (incumbent), 2,021

  • Moises M. Rodrigues (incumbent), 1,974

  • David C. Teixeira (incumbent) 1,652

  • Stephan A. Hooke Jr., 1,336

  • Jamal Brathwaite, 1,012

  • Cynthia D. McCall-Hodges, 965

  • Alix Arthur Gayaud, 466

  • Jed Hresko, 427

Results for School Committee Ward 3

Ward 3 school committee is an open seat after Jared Homer decided not to run for reelection. The race attracted three hopefuls: Ana C. Oliver, Matthew Stanton and Alan D. Greene. Stanton (325 votes) will face Oliver (235 votes) in November's general election. Greene garnered 201 votes.

Results for City Council Ward 3

On the City Council side, Ward 3 is an open seat because Mark D'Agostino chose not to run for reelection. Four people vied for the two spots on the Nov. 7 general election ballot, where perennial candidate Gary P. Keith Sr. broke through (266 votes) to face Philip Griffin, chairman of the Brockton Redevelopment Authority (228 votes). Ward 3 voters said "no" to transportation entrepreneur Michael Nunes (148 votes) and educator Gerson Monteiro (140 votes).

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Results for City Council Ward 6

Voters narrowed a list of three candidates for Ward 6 to two for the general election. Incumbent Jack Lally (594 votes) will face IT executive Joseph Walker IV (115). Steven Foote came in third with 90 votes. A major issue for the general election will be the handling of would-be youth sports complex on land city sold to developer Mark Roukous. Walker has been among the critics not only of Roukous, but also Lally's approach to the neighborhood issue.

What happens next?

The general election is Nov. 7. Here's an updated list of who will be on the ballot:

  • Mayor: Incumbent Robert F. Sullivan versus businessman Fred Fontaine.

  • City Council At-Large: Voters will also choose which four out of eight finalists gain or retain at-large seats on City Council.

  • City Council Ward 1: Incumbent Thomas J. Minichiello Jr. vs. Marlon D. Greene.

  • City Council Ward 3: Gary P. Keith vs. Philip Griffin.

  • City Council Ward 4: Incumbent Susan Nicastro vs. Tony Branch.

  • City Council Ward 5: Incumbent Jeffrey A. Thompson vs. Elisangela V. Teixeira.

  • City Council Ward 6: Incumbent Jack Lally vs. Joseph Walker IV.

  • City Council Ward 7: Incumbent Shirley R. Asack vs. Patrick Paul Quinn.

  • School Committee Ward 2: Jamie Hodges vs. Claudio E. Depina Gomes.

  • School Committee Ward 3: Matthew Stanton vs. Ana C. Oliver.

  • School Committee Ward 5: Incumbent Judy A. Sullivan vs. Cynthia Rivas Mendes.

What stood out to you about this year's Brockton preliminary election? Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at CHelms@enterprisenews.com or connect on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @HelmsNews.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton preliminary election results for mayor City Council