AUBURN — The city could have a tight race for the at-large City Council seats this November, with seven candidates mulling a run.
As of Wednesday morning, incumbents Belinda Gerry and David Colby Young had completed their nomination papers, guaranteeing them spots on the November ballot.
They could face five challengers, all passing nomination papers for the two open at-large seats: Ward 2 Councilor Bob Hayes, former Councilor Bob Mennealy, Androscoggin Chamber of Commerce President Matt Leonard, Bob Sevigny of 86 6th St. and Grady R. Burns of 25 Hillsdale St.
It’s not unusual, Gerry said — and it’s probably for the best.
“I’d rather have many candidates than a lock for one or two people,” she said. “Voters should have the right to choose, rather then just fill in one box.”
But Gerry said she expects the final ballot will be much less crowded once the nominations are all settled.
Three of the potential at-large challengers — Hayes, Mennealy and Leonard — are also passing nomination papers for other seats. Hayes is seeking nomination to his Ward 2 seat and Leonard and Mennealy are passing nomination papers for Ward 1’s council seat.
Mennealy is also passing nomination papers for the Ward 1 School Committee seat.
“I think most are seeing what’s available and what’s open,” Gerry said. “They take out papers when they are not sure quite what they want to do. They may like their ward councilor and not want to challenge them but want to serve. So they try at large.”
All 15 seats — including the mayor, seven city councilors and seven School Committee members — are up for election on the Nov. 3 ballot. Candidates have until Aug. 20 to collect enough signatures to secure a spot on the ballot.
Sevigny said he’s not a fan of people taking out nomination papers for multiple seats.
“It just sounds like politics to me,” he said. “It’s ‘Can I beat this guy or do I have a better chance with that guy?’ Just take out the one you want.”
Leonard said he’s leaning toward the Ward 1 council seat, where he could face Mennealy and James Pross of Hersey Hill Road. None of the three have completed their nomination papers.
In Ward 2, Hayes could face a challenge from Bob Stone.
Wards 3, 4 and 5 each have one person seeking the seat, with no challengers so far.
In Ward 3, Andy Titus of 24 Rubelite Lane has finished his nomination papers and confirmed a spot on the ballot. Ernestine M. Gilbert in Ward 4 and Councilor Leroy Walker in Ward 5 are gathering signatures on their nomination petitions.
In the race for mayor, incumbent Jonathan LaBonte has finished his nomination petition and locked in a spot on the ballot. Potential challenger Peter Letourneau is still collecting signatures.
Candidates for mayor must submit nomination papers signed by no fewer than 100 qualified registered voters in Auburn. Candidates for the City Council or the School Committee must submit completed nomination papers signed by no fewer than 25 qualified voters.
At-large candidates, including the mayor and at-large City Council and School Committee seats, can collect signatures from any registered voter in the city. Those seeking City Council and School Committee ward seats must collect signatures for registered voters living in their wards.
In Lewiston, would-be candidates for City Council, mayor and School Committee have until Sept. 4 to file petitions.
Lewiston’s mayoral hopefuls need to collect between 100 and 200 signatures from residents living anywhere in the city. Council and School Committee hopefuls need to collect between 50 and 100 signatures.
They can register and pick them up at the City Clerk’s office in Lewiston City Hall. Seven councilors, the mayor and all School Committee members are to be elected Nov. 3.
So far, at least two candidates are passing nomination petitions for every Lewiston City Council seat except for Ward 6.
Candidates
Auburn City Council and Mayor
City Council
Ward 1
James F. Pross, 14 Hersey Hill Road
Matthew Leonard, 441 Lake Shore Drive
Robert C. Mennealy, 43 Royal Oaks Drive
Ward 2
Bob Stone, Harrison Circle
Robert P. Hayes, 172 Allen Ave.
Ward 3
Andrew D. Titus, 24 Rubellite Lane (certified)
Ward 4
Ernestine M. Gilbert, 66 Constellation Ave.
Ward 5
Leroy Walker, 41 Broad St.
At Large
Belinda Gerry, 143 Mill St. (certified)
David C. Young, 1167 Old Danville Road (certified)
Grady R. Burns, 25 Hillsdale St.
Matthew Leonard, 441 Lake Shore Drive
Robert A. Sevigny, 86 Sixth St.
Robert C. Mennealy, 43 Royal Oaks Drive
Robert P. Hayes, 172 Allen Ave.
Mayor
Jonathan LaBonte, 41 Third St. (certified)
Peter Letourneau, 38 Field Ave.
Candidates
Lewiston City Council and Mayor
City Council
Ward 1
Leslie Dubois, 588 Main St.
Jim Lysen, 26 Taylor Hill Road (certified)
Ward 2
Marc R. Roy, 45 Hamel St. (certified)
Stavros Mendros, 135 Hogan Road
Ward 3
Isobel Moiles, 47 Nichols St.
Jared Lussier, 68 Wood St.
Ward 4
Shane Bouchard, 278 Perley St. (certified)
Darcy Reed, 89 Rideout Ave.
Ward 5
Kristen Cloutier, 33 Charles St.
Richard L. White, 232 Blake St.
Ward 7
Michael R. Lachance, 183 Rosedale St. (certified)
Kristine Kittridge, 277 Lisbon St.
Mayor
Robert Macdonald, 6 Jolin St.
Ben Chin, 16 Kennsignton Terrace
Charles Arthur Soule, 135 Bartlett St.
Stanley Pelletier, 28 South Surrey Lane
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