North Adams Gets More City Council Candidates
 |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There is some potential for new faces on the City Council and School Committee this year, though it's too early in the election season to make any predictions.
So far, four of the nine incumbent city councilors have taken out papers for re-election: Keith Bona, Peter Oleskiewicz, Bryan Sapienza and Ashley Shade. They've been joined by five challengers: Colin Bain, Robert Cardimino, Emily Johnson, Deanna Morrow and Ronald Sheldon.
Both Cardimino and Sheldon have run unsuccessfully in the past; the other three are newcomers. Cardimino is the first candidate to return nomination papers, handing them in on April 26.
Sapienza and Shade were the first incumbents to pull papers. A few other councilors have said they were waiting to make a decision but Bona pulled papers this week after being slapped with his first Open Meeting Law violation, saying he did not want to end his tenure on a bad note. Bona will be running for an eighth consecutive term although he also served a couple terms in the 1990s.
Oleskiewicz will be seeking his second full term after being appointed to complete an unexpired term in 2020.
Tara Jacobs is the only School Committee incumbent to pull papers so far. She is seeking a third term. Newcomers Cody Chamberlain and Eric Wilson have also pulled papers for the three four-year seats up for election.
All three incumbents on the McCann School Committee have taken out papers for re-election: Peter Breen, George Canales and William Diamond. Diamond returned his papers on April 27.
Jennifer Macksey is running for a second term as mayor and, to date, has no challenger.
Nominees must submit the signatures of 50 registered voters for any of the offices up for election. Papers must be received by the Registrars of Voters by 5 p.m. on Aug. 1; the last day to withdraw is Aug. 17.
A preliminary election will be held if there number of candidates is double the seats open plus one. For example, at least three candidates or 19 for City Council.
A preliminary election, if necessary, will be held on Sept. 19; the general election is Nov. 7, both from 9 to 7 at St. Anthony's Parish Hall. The last day to register to vote is Sept. 9 and Oct. 28, respectively.
These dates are correct and an update from a previous schedule issued by the city clerk's office.
Tags: election 2023, municipal election,
