WESTFIELD – Candidates for the 2021 local election have until July 30 to take out nomination papers and so far, the school committee race has several newcomers who could face incumbents.
For the four-year at-large committee seats, incumbents Heather W. Sullivan, Cindy A. Sullivan and Timothy J. O’Connor have taken out papers, with Cindy Sullivan having returned and certified her signatures. Jeffrey Gosselin, a former committee member, has also had his signatures certified. Other residents new to the committee have taken out candidate papers but have not returned them, including potential candidates Jason A. LaFleur, Thomas A. Lewis, Martha M. Breton and Kathleen L. Hillman.
The mayor’s race has three candidates who have taken out nomination papers – incumbent Donald F. Humason Jr., Michael A. McCabe and Efrain Luna. As of July 16, Humason was the only candidate with certified signatures according to the city clerk’s office.
Also as of July 16, there were no newcomers for the at-large city council race or any ward races other than Ward 1 candidate Mary Beth Berrien, who took out papers June 21. Incumbent Ward 1 Councilor Nicholas J. Morganelli Jr. took papers June 24 for ward 1 and at-large but has not returned signatures yet for either seat.
Incumbent at-large councilors Cindy C. Harris and Brent B. Bean II have both returned papers and had signatures certified. Incumbents Kristen L. Mallo, Dave Flaherty, Dan Allie, Richar K. Sullivan Jr. and James R. Adams have all taken papers but not returned them.
Ward 2 incumbent Ralph J. Figy, Ward 3 incumbent Bridget Matthews-Kane, Ward 4 incumbent Michael Burns, Ward 5 incumbent John J. Beltrandi III and Ward 6 incumbent William Onyski have all taken papers and thus far are unopposed.
Signatures for Burns, Beltrandi and Onyski have been certified.
Municipal Light Board members Kevin M. Kelleher Sr., ward 1, Ray Rivera, ward 2, Dawn Renaudette, ward 3, Francis L. Liptak, ward 4, Joseph B. Mitchell, ward 5 and Robert Sacco, ward 6, have all taken nomination papers but none have been returned as of Friday.
Andrea L. Pennington returned papers and had signatures certified for a Westfield Athenaeum Trustee six-year term.
Nomination papers must be returned to the Board of Registrars by 5 p.m. Aug. 3 and the board must file papers with City Clerk Karen M. Fanion by 5 p.m. Aug. 17. The last day for a candidate to withdraw is Aug. 18 at 5 p.m. Ballot positions will be drawn Aug. 23.
If needed, a preliminary election will be Sept. 21. The general election is Nov. 2.
