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Date: 6/7/2023
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Few challengers have stepped forward so far to run in the town’s November municipal election.
According to a list from Town Clerk Otto Frizzell, as of June 1, four of the five at-large town councilors, three of the four district town councilors and five of the six School Committee members have taken out nomination papers to run for the seats they currently occupy, along with one challenger each for at-large councilor, District 4 councilor and School Committee member.
Incumbents who have started the nomination process are at-large councilors Brian Clune, Brian Griffin, Sean Powers and Jaime Smith; District 2 Councilor Michael LaFlamme; District 3 Councilor Anthony DiStefano; District 4 Councilor Daniel O’Brien; and School Committee members Kathleen Alevras, Diana Coyne, Robert Mancini, Colleen Marcus and Kira Thompson. Additionally, Elisa Olivo has taken out papers to run for at-large councilor, Frederick Connor has taken out papers to run against O’Brien in District 4, and Mustafa Thompson has taken out papers for School Committee.
Candidates must collect signatures of registered voters on their election papers to be nominated for the ballot. At-large seats require at least 100 signatures, including 25 from each of the town’s four districts, each of which comprises two voting precincts. Nominations for district councilor require 50 signatures from that district. None of the candidates has returned signed papers yet.
All seats on this year’s ballot are two-year terms; the four-year mayoral term is not up for election this year.
The only current officeholders who have not taken out reelection papers are at-large Councilor Edward Sullivan, District 1 Councilor Michael Eger and School Committee member Nancy Farrell.
Nomination papers are available until July 14 at the town clerk’s office in Town Hall, 28 Central St., West Springfield. Papers must be returned by July 18.