WESTFIELD – Although the city election is months away and hopeful candidates can still take out nomination papers, the race is heating up already.
As of May 29, 31 residents had taken out papers for various elected positions.
Police Capt. Michael A. McCabe and state Sen. Donald F. Humason Jr. are the only mayoral candidates so far.
The Westfield City Council at-large race has seven candidates currently, including incumbents Cindy C. Harris, Brent B. Bean II and Daniel Allie. Current Ward 3 Councilor Andrew K. Surprise took out papers for an at-large seat, as did residents Jason Russell, Rudy F. Musterait and John M. Bowen Jr.
Incumbent Mary Ann Babinski is the only Ward 1 candidate at this time, while Council President Ralph J. Figy, Ward 2, could be challenged by Juan F. Navarrete, who also took out nomination papers for the seat.
In Ward 3, Bridget Matthews-Kane and Richard Sutter took out papers, while incumbent Ward 4 Councilor Michael Burns remains unchallenged at press time.
Current at-large Councilor John J. Beltrandi III took out papers for the Ward 5 seat, as did current Ward 5 Councilor Leslie Lefebvre who took over the seat this past year when Councilor Robert A. Paul Sr. retired. Ward 6 Councilor William J. Onyski took out papers in hopes of retaining his seat. Jeffrey A. Neece also took out papers for the Ward 6 slot.
School Committee incumbents Ramon Diaz Jr., Bo Sullivan and Diane M. Mayhew all took out papers, as well as former Committee member Jeffrey L. Gosselin.
Municipal Light Board Ward 1 representative Kevin M. Kelleher Sr. took out nomination papers along with potential challenger Luis Morales. MLB Ward 2 incumbent Ray Rivera and Ward 3 incumbent Dawn Renaudette are unchallenged so far, as are MLB Ward 4 representative Francis L. Liptak and Ward 5 representative Thomas P. Flaherty Sr.
Ward 6 representative and chair of the MLB, incumbent Robert C. Sacco, took out papers as well as Jason J. Bean.
No resident has taken papers for the Westfield Athenaeum Trustee seat.
Nomination papers must be returned to the Board of Registrars by 5 p.m. Aug. 6, and the Registrar must turn in the confirmed list to City Clerk Karen Fanion by 5 p.m. Aug. 20.
The Westfield preliminary election is Sept. 24 and the general election is Nov. 5.
