NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There's a contest shaping up for mayor as three people have now taken out nomination papers for the corner office. 

 

Thomas Bernard announced his intention to run for a second term last month at a kickoff event at the Richmond Grille. This past week, Rachel Branch took out papers and announced on July 3 her intent to run. Also taking out papers is Richard David Greene. 

 

Should all three get enough signatures certified, then a preliminary election will have to be held. That also could occur for City Council, which is now two potential candidates away from a preliminary to narrow the field. 

 

Bernard was elected in 2017 to succeed Richard Alcombright, who decided against running for a fifth term. 

 

Branch, a McCann School Committee member, also had run for mayor two years ago but was eliminated in the preliminary with two other candidates.

 

The number of City Council candidates is now up to 17, with only five of the sitting councilors taking out nomination papers. Keith Bona, Marie T. Harpin, Jason Laforest, Benjamin Lamb and Wayne Wilkinson are seeking re-election; Eric Buddington, Rebbecca Cohen, Paul Hopkins and Joshua Moran have indicated they would not. 

 

Lisa Blackmer, who served on the council for a decade, is seeking to return after a two-year absence. Also taking out papers are Ronald K. Sheldon, Bryan K. Sapienza, Jonathan Schnauber, Cameron Lapine, Roger J. Eurbin, Robert Cardimino, Peter J. Oleskiewicz, Jessica Sweeney, Ashley M. Shade, Michael I. Obasohan, and Trupthi Mehta.

 

Sapienza, Cardimino and Shade have previously run but were not able to garner the votes to get one of the nine at-large seats. The others are largely newcomers to city politics, although Oleskiewicz had tried for mayor and Eurbin a last-minute council run in the past. 

 

Of the 17 who took out papers, seven have returned them to have signatures certified. 

 

Taking out papers for School Committee are Tara Jacobs, who is running for a third term, and David Sookey III and Emily Daunis. Incumbents Karen Bond and Nicholas Fahey have not so far taken out papers. 

 

George Canales and William R. Diamond are both seeking re-election as North Adams representatives on the McCann School Committee. 

 

Nomination papers have been available since April 2 and must be submitted with the required 50 signatures of registered voters by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 19. The last day to withdraw is Aug. 6.