Mayoral and City Council candidates will likely see a preliminary race in September

Jo C. Goode, The Herald News
·2 min read

FALL RIVER — Wednesday was the last day for potential candidates to return nomination papers, and if all those interested in running for city office have the required signatures certified, it appears there will be both a mayor's race and a City Council preliminary on Sept. 19.

Incumbent Mayor Paul Coogan will be running for his third term as the city’s head leader. Former mayor C. Sam Sutter who served in the office in 2015 in a recall election that ousted former mayor Will Flanagan. He then lost in a challenge from Jasiel Correia II, who himself was booted from office while facing federal charges and then convicted.

Michael J. Vandal will give another run for mayor the second election cycle in a row, making it three people running and sparking the potential preliminary.

While there are 19 people who returned nomination papers for City Council, the minimum to hold a preliminary election, ten candidates returned nomination papers for School Committee, three candidates shy of the required 13 people.

There will be just one preliminary race for mayor in September with not enough candidates to hold one for City Council and School Committee.
There will be just one preliminary race for mayor in September with not enough candidates to hold one for City Council and School Committee.

Who may run for City Council in September ?

Candidates have until July 18 to file Board of Elections certified nomination papers, with mayoral candidates required to collect 300 signatures from registered voters, and Council and School Committee needing 150 each.

So far city Council incumbents Linda Pereira, Joseph Camara, Laura Jean Washington, and Andrew Rapoza have filed their paperwork, according to the Board of Elections.

Council incumbents who submitted their required number of signatures and are awaiting certification are Brad Kilby, Michelle Dion, Pam Laliberte and Shawn Cadime.

A City Councilor for more than three decades in total, Leo Pelletier, had announced previously that he would not be seeking another term.

Long tenure: Despite heart attack, veteran City Councilor Leo Pelletier determined to finish final term

School Committee member and a former City Councilor, Paul Hart, has also filed his nomination papers to be on the ballot.

Other candidates that have filed are Gloria Saddler, Joseph Salvador, Paulo Amaral, and Bob Pearson, a former School Committee member.

Having submitted nomination papers by Wednesday’s deadline are Ricky Tith, Joshua Teixeira, Gabriel Amaral, Jordan James Silvia, Alexander Silva, and former City Councilor and interim mayor Cliff Ponte.

If the City Council preliminary election goes ahead with 19 candidates, the top 18 candidates will be on the ballot in the November election.

Race for School Committee also in November

School Committee incumbent who has filed certified nomination papers is Shelli-Ann Pereira and on the November ballot.

Incumbents waiting on signature certification are Michelle “Mimi” Larrivee, Kevin Aguiar, and Sara Rodrigues and Bobby Bailey.

A second time candidate, Charles M. Chase Jr., has filed his nomination papers as did Rene Georgia Brown and Colin Dias.

Former School Committee member Thomas Khoury is hoping to return and Warren Alves is also waiting for his signatures to be certified.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Mayor's race and Council to likely have preliminary election